Mongolian Cloud Houses: How to Make a Yurt and Live Comfortably

by Dan Frank Kuehn

Written for those interested in alternative lifestyles, outdoor living, camping, and do-it-yourself projects, this lively book recounts the author's experiences building his first yurt. Dan Frank Kuehn carefully guides readers through every step of the creation of a 13' diameter, 10' tall model. He covers everything from the poles and lattice that form the basic structure to the pluses and minuses of various materials to the "luxuries like solar windows and lofts. The book highlights new building techniques and contains detailed lists of commercial yurt manufacturers, tools, and materials.

152 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2006

Reviews

[Sixwing · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one for writing reference, and I probably should have picked something else. I'd like more information on historical and modern Mongolian gers, and this is simply not that book.

The author is very up-front about it, making a useful distinction between "ger" and "yurt," that being any one of a large variety of derivative structures.

That said, it was a fast, interesting read, full of useful diagrams for understanding how the structure goes together. The large number of modifications made for the inexperienced craftsperson to get a working structure out of it are plain, and it ended up being quite useful to see how a complex and artistic structure can be simplified until a random American with a hatchet can make something liveable.