Architecture Archives

Zach Both and his girlfriend Nicole Lopez put their own spin on the modern yurt with a very contemporary design. While many yurt owners will keep a fairly open space, they decided to build something a bit different. Centered in the yurt is where the bathroom is located, but above this structure is a circular loft that is truly unique. About Yurts Yurt's have been around for thousands of years, however the modern Yurt was introduced in the US in the 1960's. While they certainly aren't for everyone, they can offer a much smaller cost to build compared to other structures. They've been used for full-time living, vacation getaways, and also for business purposes. Some owners will use them for studios or other uses in their backyards. It can certainly be cheaper than a home addition to a traditional structure. If you ever want to try one out, there's a handful of yurt nightly rentals available. Snohomish County Parks (the county where I live) has yurts available at both Kayak Point and River Meadows Park Village. They mention camping year round in comfort. You can find out more on the Snohomish County Parks site for yurts. A handful of yurts can also be found on sites like AirBnB. Modern Yurt Build Guide On DoItYurtself.com, Zach has built a very informative guide on the process covering the following topics: PlatformFramingRoof and WallsLoft and RoomElectricalPlumbingWood StoveFinishing TouchesPlants and Exterior https://youtu.be/f05NYU3kmFs Deconstruction of the Yurt (It's Been Sold) On his personal site, Zach also included this deconstruction video. He mentions that he and Nicole decided not to renew their land lease, this then meant they had to take the entire yurt down. They found a new owner all the way across the country in North Carolina. https://youtu.be/EoaUBkxfXUc Modern Yurt for a Vacation Property While I've been looking for several years now for an investment property, prices seem to keep soaring. At some point I'm just going to have to move forward with one. With the price of property continuing to go up, I'm definitely looking for lower budget house options. My 10 year old seems impressed by yurts so far and asked if we could use one as a treehouse. While I'm sure it's doable to build a platform up in the trees to support a yurt, I'm not sure if I'd trust having the potential for falling branches. We've had some fairly large branches fall from the Douglas fir trees on our property during heavier windstorms, I don't think I'm ready to see what one would do to a canvas roof. Whether it's a yurt, small cabin, or something else, I'll continue to explore various living space options. All while trying to find something likely on the DIY-friendly space and within a smaller budget. If anyone has suggestions on small living spaces that are fairly easy to construct, feel free to leave a comment below. More Fabville Articles on Sustainability Check out more of our articles on sustainability here:https://fabville.com/category/sustainability