THE STATE OF THE YURT

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The new structures have proved delightful to live in. One problem of circular dwellings (like the standard yurt) is that they're not easily sectioned off into pleasant shapes. At first I looked on the concentric plan as a solution to that difficulty and planned to divide the outer ring into rooms. The curved, expanding space felt so fine, however, that I hesitated and finally built a small separate yurt for a john and shower. In general, I'd recommend adding more of the buildings if separate facilities are wanted, rather than breaking up the interior of one.

In any case, the nature of the concentric yurt does create several areas for different functions. The inner section, for instance, is raised five feet above the outer ring and serves as either a private retreat or a quiet circular dining and gathering room.

The understory beneath that central core is a surprising spot. It has much the same feel as a boat's cuddy: minimum space, but with an appeal of its own. Headroom of 55 inches sounds ridiculously small for use, yet allows a person 6' 2" to sit upright in comfort.

The couch I've designed to fit this lower area is 13-1/2" high, with 3" of foam padding on top. It serves both as seating and as an extra bed. The unit's front edge is made into a bookcase—to conserve space and to keep special books near at hand-and storage room for seldom-used articles is available underneath. (In fact, the whole understory is good stowing room: Part of it can become a pantry, and chests of drawers can be put on rollers and wheeled there until needed. The spaciousness of the yurt is enhanced, however, if this part is left as open as possible.)

A full-sized lower story can also be created by building a yurt with a sunken center. One of this type—in Vermont—has its kitchen and bath partly below ground level.

The adventurous builder can no doubt imagine many possibilities in the concentric design: three or four-ring yurts, for instance, with each level dropping below the preceding one to allow for clerestory lighting of the interior. A word of warning, though: Don't alter the basic plan until you've had the experience of putting up one building according to directions. Years of thought, care and experimentation have gone into the conception, and random changes are unsafe. The structure can and will be improved . . . but you have a greater chance of contributing to that improvement if you stick to the instructions the first time around. That way you'll learn by doing and end up with a useful house, rather than a pile of boards collapsed about your ears after the first heavy snow.

The concentric yurt can be built by anyone skilled with hand tools and liberally supplied with imagination. It's not, however, a beginner's project. One good approach to its construction is to organize a yurt workshop, at which an instructor from the Foundation will teach you and your friends while you actually erect your new home, classroom or whatever. (There's a consultant fee of $700 for a concentric yurt project, which usually takes a week for a dozen or so workers. Both the time and the charge are halved if You choose a standard
model.)

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