What is a yurt?
A yurt is a portable, bent wood-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by Turkic nomads in the steppes of Central Asia.The structure comprises a crown or compression wheel (tüýnük) usually steam bent, supported by roof ribs which are bent down at the end where they meet the lattice wall (again steam bent). The top of the wall is prevented from spreading by means of a tension band which opposes the force of the roof ribs. The structure is usually covered by layers of fabric and sheeps-wool felt for insulation and weatherproofing.
The similar Mongolic nomadic structure the ger is often wrongly referred to by westerners as a yurt but differs in that the heavier roof wheel (toono) is supported on posts and the roof ribs are straight rather than bending down at the wall junction. The wall lattice is of a ger is constructed of straight pieces as opposed to the the yurt's curved lattice .
The word yurt is originally from a Turkic word referring to the imprint left in the ground by a moved yurt, and by extension, sometimes a person's homeland, kinsmen, or feudal appanage.. The term came to be used in reference to the physical tent-like dwellings only in other languages. In modern Turkish the word "yurt" is used as the synonym of homeland. In Russian the structure is called "yurta" (юрта), whence the word came into English.
The Kazakh word used for yurt is киіз үй (transliterated: kïiz üy), and means "felt house". The Kyrgyz term is боз үй (transliterated: boz üy), meaning "grey house", because of the color of the felt. In Turkmen the term is both ak öý and gara öý, literally "white house" and "black house", depending on its luxury and elegance. In Mongolian it is called a ger (гэр). Afghans call them "Kherga"/"Jirga" or "ooee". In Pakistan it is also known as gher (گھر). In Hindi, it is called ghar (घर), which means home. In Persian yurt is called xeyme (خیمه), in Tajik the names are yurt, xona-i siyoh, xayma (юрт, хонаи сиёҳ, хайма).
(from Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yurt )
Distinctive yurt roof curve The Ger is on the left
Yurts
A wide range of structures are referred to as "yurts" in western countries. These dwellings vary significantly in materials , construction and features. Some structures have very little or no steam bent components and are thus easier to make. This applies to most ger designs. Some use softwood or other materials with a reasonable lifespan in their native climates. We chose to base ous design on the yurt from kyrgyzstan and to enhance suitability for a damp temperate climate by using hardwood; thick, durable canvas; solid wooden doors in kiln dried hardwood frames and top quality finishes. We also steam bend components to enable hardwood (usually ash or oak, to take the curves required. Steam bending creates the striking looks of our yurt wheels. It also allows our yurts to have extra headroom (compared to a ger) enabled by the curved roof ribs.
A Ger frame
A yurt frame (below)
