Yurt Living: Dome, Cupola or Spire?

Every yurt has a central compression ring. The exterior finale is typically a dome. Yet there are some options that may surprise you.

A yurt cupola is especially nice for tropical environments. Claire Wolfe, who wrote about her yurt building for Backwoods Home Magazine, replaces the dome skylight for a cupola. She utilized a powder-coated steel frame with an architectural fabric cover. The cupola was raised six inches around the perimeter. As a result, there’s shade and a natural cooling system with maximum air flow.

If you select a less expensive dome instead, Claire recommends it open and close, — not be fixed. She emphasizes how important it is for that airflow on hot summer days. “The skylight is a big feature of yurt living,” she adds, “both for utility and beauty because you’ll probably spend many hours admiring and appreciating it.”

Stanley McGaughey shares his yurt building at Tug Hollow in New York state online. He notes that a spire is architectural and a cupola is functional. Pictured are with both aspects, — interior and exterior. In summary, the architectural roof is vented.

Eco Design in Australia offers plans for octagonal yurt building kits. Pictured is the interior view of a windowed cupola which optimizes air flow.

For a minor fee, you can purchase the How to Build a Yurt Fact Sheet from the Center for Alternative Technology. The illustrated DIY guide is illustrated by experienced builder Steve Place. This fact sheet is available to download. The Australian center offers solutions to some of the most serious challenges facing our planet and the human race. Yurt living is one practical way they address such problems.

Enthusiasts please never forget Becky Kemery, author of Yurts: Living in the Round. She pops up from my Internet searches frequently answering queries and contributing advice on forums. If you have a specific yurt question, she’s the Queen! Yet feel free to send feedback below regarding this or related posts. And remember, your local yurt experts probably provide custom construction needs.