A Bit of History

The yurt is a habitation unit, used by some nomadic populations, whose origins are lost in the depths of time. Its form, always round, allows a great resistance against the heavy winds which sweep the large steppes of Central Asia. This ancestral residence, classified a world humanity inheritance by UNESCO, is still used nowadays in cities and isolated areas of Mongolia.

The yurt consists of a wood lattice and supporting rafters resting on a compression ring. Most of the time, the flexible but robust reinforcement of the traditional yurt is covered with felt. Although from the mechanical point of view, the structure is prestressed and self-supporting, some are provided with posts which support the compression ring.

The Mongolian yurt can shelter up to 20 people and several customs as well as the use of space are governed by tradition. Among others, the door always faces south, when entering the right side is the women's quarters while the left side is the men’s quarters. When a guest comes into the yurt, he must avoid walking on the threshold and avoid touching the doorframe.