Yurt
A traditional yurt or ger is a portable, round tent covered with skins or felt and used as a dwelling by several distinct nomadic groups in the steppes of Central Asia. The structure comprises an angled assembly or latticework of pieces of wood or bamboo for walls, a door frame, ribs, and a whee…
What's so special about a yurt?
Jul 12, 2017 · The traditional orientation of a yurt is with the door to the south. The yurt’s most sacred space is to the north. This is where an altar would be placed, if the residents were Christian or Buddhist, and would serve as the traditional seating area for village elders or respected leaders. A yurt’s interior design had some significance, too. The western half of the ger was considered …
What to expect when staying in a yurt?
A yurt is a very basic, tent-like structure traditionally used for nomadic living. While anyone can choose to live in a yurt, they are especially suitable for those who prefer to live in nature. Buy or build your yurt according to your own needs and standards, and be sure to place your yurt near a clean water source.
What does Yurt mean or stand for?
An ancient shelter. Once described as “an architectural wonder” by Architectural Digest, the traditional nomadic home of Mongolia and surrounding regions, typically referred to as a Ger, has been widely used for thousands of years. Key factors in defining a yurt are that it is portable, circular, has an accordion lattice wall, a tension band, radial rafters leading up to a central …
What does a yurt look like?
Mar 24, 2022 · A true yurt is designed to be lightweight and portable so that it can be moved along with its owner. Yurts can be broken down into components that are easily carried by camels, yaks, or other animals. The tradition of the yurt is probably quite ancient. The basic design is essentially like an enhanced tent.
What is so great about a yurt?
Yurts are environmentally friendly by definition. Since they're circular, they maximize interior square footage while using relatively few construction materials.Jul 14, 2016
What are the advantages of living in a yurt?
Top 5 Pros of Living in a Yurt1) It's an experience I won't regret. ... 2) It's fun to decorate. ... 3) It's peaceful. ... 4) It's allowing me to really figure out what I want and who I am. ... 5) My view. ... 1) Flies and Ants and Bugs. ... 2) No bathroom in my yurt. ... 3) When it's cold, it's cold.More items...•Nov 25, 2019
Do bugs get into yurts?
No matter how you try to seal up a yurt, the bugs will find a way to get in. A mosquito net that covers your bed will be your last, but best line of defense.
Are yurts easy to break into?
Yurts are far more difficult to break into than a standard stick house. With the lattice work frame expanding across the walls and windows, it makes it considerably more work to breach than a common house with glass windows.
Where is the yurt?
A traditional yurt (from the Turkic languages) or ger ( Mongolian) is a portable, round tent covered with skins or felt and used as a dwelling by several distinct nomadic groups in the steppes of Central Asia.
What is a yurt in the world?
Enthusiasts in other countries have adapted the visual idea of the yurt, a round, semi-permanent tent. Although those structures may be copied to some extent from the originals found in Central Asia, they often have some different features in their design to adapt them to different climate and use.
What is a yurt made of?
The structure consists of an angled assembly or latticework of wood or bamboo for walls, a door frame, ribs (poles, rafters), and a wheel (crown, compression ring) possibly steam-bent. The roof structure is often self-supporting, but large yurts may have interior posts supporting the crown.
How long does it take to build a yurt?
A yurt is designed to be dismantled and the parts carried compactly on camels or yaks to be rebuilt on another site. Complete construction takes around 2 hours. Mongolian Ger: starting with walls and door. Mongolian Ger: starting to place roof poles. Mongolian Ger: with roof poles in place.
Who first described a yurt?
The first written description of a yurt used as a dwelling was recorded by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. He described yurt-like tents as the dwelling place of the Scythians, a horse riding-nomadic nation who lived in the northern Black Sea and Central Asian region from around 600 BC to AD 300.
What are the symbols of a yurt?
Symbols representing strength are among the most common, including the khas ( swastika) and four powerful beasts ( lion, tiger, garuda, and dragon ), as well as stylized representations of the five elements (fire, water, earth, metal, and wood), considered to be the fundamental, unchanging elements of the cosmos. Such patterns are commonly used in the home with the belief that they will bring strength and offer protection.
Where did the word "yurt" come from?
Old Turkic yurt "tent, dwelling, abode, range" evolved from the word. It may have been derived from the Old Turkic word ur - verb with the suffix +Ut; however, this is not certain. In modern Turkish, the word "yurt" is used as the synonym of "homeland" or a "dormitory".
What is a Pacific yurt?
The Pacific Yurt is an adaptation of the beloved shelter used by Central Asian nomads for centuries. The compact shape of the yurt and combination of lightweight members in tension and compression mean that the structure is highly efficient in maximizing strength while minimizing the use of materials.
What is an acrylic skylight?
NASA-developed reflective insulation replaces layers of felted wool. An acrylic skylight allows light and warmth during the day and a clear view of the sky at night.
Where were yurts built?
Yurts were built to be used in Central Asian steppes. A steppe is a flat, dry grassland, where trees are scarce. The circular shape of the yurt resists heavy winds created by these more barren landscapes.
Where did yurts originate?
Yurts were originally used by nomads living in Siberia, Mongolia, and Turkey. These early habitats have symbolized life in Central Asia for approximately 3000 years. Descriptions of yurts appear in the earliest written accounts of world history by Greek historian Herodotus. During the Bronze Age in Siberia, yurts were depicted in rock etchings.
Overview
A traditional yurt (from the Turkic languages) or ger (Mongolian) is a portable, round tent covered with skins or felt and used as a dwelling by several distinct nomadic groups in the steppes of Central Asia. The structure consists of an angled assembly or latticework of wood or bamboofor walls, a door frame, ribs (poles, rafters), and a wheel (crown, compression ring) possibly steam-bent. T…
Etymology and translations
Old Turkicyurt "tent, dwelling, abode, range" evolved from the word. It may have been derived from the Old Turkic word ur - verb with the suffix +Ut. In modern Turkish, the word "yurt" is used as the synonym of "homeland" or a "dormitory", while in modern Azerbaijani, "yurd" mainly signifies "homeland" or "motherland". In Russian, the structure is called "yurta" (юрта), whence the word came into E…
History
Yurts have been a distinctive feature of life in Central Asia for at least three thousand years. The first written description of a yurt used as a dwelling was recorded by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. He described yurt-like tents as the dwelling place of the Scythians, a horse riding-nomadic nation who lived in the northern Black Sea and Central Asian region from around 600 BC to AD 300.
Construction
Traditional yurts consist of an expanding wooden circular frame carrying a felt cover. The felt is made from the wool of the flocks of sheep that accompany the pastoralists. The timber to make the external structure is not to be found on the treeless steppes, and must be obtained by trade in the valleys below.
The frame consists of one or more expanding latticewall-sections, a door-fram…
Decoration and symbolism
The traditional decoration within a yurt is primarily pattern-based. These patterns are generally not according to taste, but are derived from sacred ornaments with certain symbolism. Symbols representing strength are among the most common, including the khas (swastika) and four powerful beasts (lion, tiger, garuda, and dragon), as well as stylized representations of the five elements(fire, …
Westernization
Enthusiasts in other countries have adapted the visual idea of the yurt, a round, semi-permanent tent. Although those structures may be copied to some extent from the originals found in Central Asia, they often have some different features in their design to adapt them to different climate and use.
In Canada and the United States, yurts are made using hi-techmaterials. They ar…
See also
• Architecture of Mongolia
• Flag of Kyrgyzstan
• Ger district
• Igloo
• List of human habitation forms
External links
• Media related to Yurts at Wikimedia Commons
• Yurt Info – A comprehensive resource for yurts and related structures
• Yurt Forum – A community resource for yurts and related structures
• Yurt - World History Encyclopedia