What's a Yurt?
yurt (yurt) n. A circular portable shelter used by Central Asian nomads for over 2000 years, recently adapted for Western use.

The earliest yurt, the ger or uy, is an ancient structure still used by nomadic herders on the steppes of Central Asia. It has a lattice-wall framework with an encircling tension band, roof ribs which meet in a central compression ring, and a covering of felted wool.

The fabric yurt, a contemporary portable adaptation, takes the structural framework of the Mongolian ger and incorporates modern elements like reflective insulation and a steel aircraft cable for the tension band. The cover is either canvas or a modern architectural fabric.

Tapered wall yurts, designed by Bill Coperthwaite, maintain elements of the original yurt roof structure but are made of wood with outwardly sloping walls. These yurts are usually built in group workshop settings.

The frame panel yurt maintains the yurt roof structure and sense of internal spaciousness. Partially pre-fabricated to keep costs low, these permanent wooden yurts are usually building-code approved and include most amenities of modern living.