Yurt Living – Design Rules Pricing

Climate and purpose formulate design decisions. And the design is necessary to project costs. What are yurt design options? Let’s start with basics.

The yurt you’re dreaming of may be for a home, studio, office, shop, vacation lodge, etc. Regardless of the purpose, respect the demands of nature in order to determine upgrades for the size yurt selected. Another factor is whether or not the construction is off or on the grid.

My tropical climate benefits from awnings whereas the chilly north locations don’t feel the necessity. I also live in the rain forest which values doorway shelter. Pictured here is a yurt with a covered lanai, contributed by Yurts of Hawaii.

Think building codes, platforms, and you know there are more expenses than the manufacturing of the yurt. Off-grid buyers need to be prepared also. For starters however, you can get a feel for upgrades and pricing (free) from the Yurts of Hawaii automated expense calculator.

The pictured rendering is a two-story yurt by Ethereal Sensations. Below that is a photograph of the home of renowned yurt guru, Bill Coperthwaite, from the pages of Home Work: Handbuilt Shelter. Bill’s home is a tri-centric, or three-ring yurt designed for construction in phases. The total floor space is 2,700 square feet! You see yurts are not restricted to one story, or fabric roofs.

Obviously you want to work with a construction manager that specializes in yurts. It’s become easier to find such expertise when you purchase your yurt from a manufacturer that abides by building permit requirements. Yurt manufacturer sales affiliates can suggest what upgrades to purchase for custom designs. They may also secure the right building crew to fulfill your dreams. Some even offer yurt services. Examples are architectural draftsmen, interior decorators, and even landscape designers with compost builders.

The more yurt-minded the work team is, the closer to nature the dwelling will evolve into. Each owner decides how far from conventional they want to go. It’s a personal matter and an empowering choice. In summary, visualize and design first. Then start pricing to determine your budget.