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The yurt is finding a home in the catalogue of home options for North Americans who have an inclination for unusual and eco-friendly living options.

Although the modern yurt design is based on the traditional Turkish yurt or Mongolia ger, the new design offers several essential advantages over the time-honoured Asian structure. Durable, fire-retardant, UV-resistant fabrics with lifespans of 15 to 20 years, space-age foil-backed insulation that provide R-values exceeding R10, and creative ventilation techniques using wind turbine roof vents, directional dome skylights, customizable opening locations and durable plastic windows with zip-up rough weather covers are just a few of the innovative improvements.

The yurt’s round design, with walls and exo-skeleton held stable by the pressure of the cone-shaped roof system that rests on wall top plate, provides lightweight structural stability. A thin cable attached to the inside upper perimeter of the lattice wall & fabric frame draws the walls inward while the weight of the roof structure pushes outward. This stasis makes the building very stable in the most extreme winds.

Today’s yurts are easy & inexpensive to heat, largely due to the decreased wind resistance of the circular design and open-room concept. Yet, these homes are able to incorporate either conventional heating systems or eco-friendly systems. Because many yurt owners prefer to build in remote locations, the use of green energy, such as solar, ground source geothermal or wind energy is essential.

Typically, yurt costs run from $11 per square foot to $23. This compares very favourably to costs for conventional frame houses, with construction prices ranging from $60 to $120 per square foot.

Yurts and gers were designed to be mobile. The ability to tear down and reassemble these homes was a critical consideration for the nomadic homeowners who used them over the centuries in the mountains of Asia. Similarly, modern yurts provide that same flexibility, with average assembly time seldom exceeding five days. This versatility means that the yurt is easy to set up in a remote area, but structurally sound enough to live in year-round in the coldest climates. Read the rest of this entry »