D's latest idea is to build a Yurt on our roof, in lieu of a penthouse. We talked to a company in Colorado (Colorado Yurt) that has been building yurts since 1977, and they seem to think it would be a viable idea.
A latticework of wood, held together with tension, provides the walls.
A better explaination is here
Saturday's Chicago Tribune had an article about the idea of yurts in general
(If you need a subscription to enter the site, go to www.bugmenot.com, or use lmagnino /dexter)
...round, portable structure first used centuries ago by the nomadic herdsmen of Mongolia and central Asia. During the cool months, they come every weekend. When summer temperatures soar in Utah, the Raleighs close up the yurt and live full-time in their Carbondale, Colo., home.“The number one motivating factor was cost,” said Lisa, who works with Duane in the magazine publishing industry. “Yurts are amazingly cost-efficient.”
With price tags between $4,700 and $10,000, these steel and fabric structures provide an affordable alternative to brick and mortar. Owners are using them as backcountry ski huts, guest cottages, home offices, yoga retreats and restaurants.
...
Yurts are held together by combining compression and tension. Lattice pieces are bolted together to form a continuous circular wall.A steel cable is preset, on top of the lattice wall, to the exact circumference of the yurt. The rafters hook onto the steel cable at one end while, at the other end, they attach to a compression ring at the top center of the yurt.
The entire structure is then covered with a fabric skin.
Yurts come in a variety of colors and generally range in size from about 200 to 700 square feet, although sizes may vary depending on the company.
Depending on the climate, additional insulation, wind and snow-load kits may be required.
Other extras include wood-burning or gas stoves, insulated windows, French doors, cistern systems and screen doors.
I also found two other yurt companies....
http://redskyshelters.com/
http://www.yurts-r-us.com/
I think it would be so cool so have a yurt on our roof, along with a wooden deck to sip mint juleps on.
Update:
We got some plans for our yurt project from our second architect. The architect wants us to consider a gazebo (as shown on second drawing), but we just don't think a gazebo is as cool as having the only roof-top yurt in the city (and probably one of only a few in the nation). Plus, as an added bonus, we get to use yurt in conversations, without context usually. Like calling one of our cats, “here Yurty McDowell”. Immeasurable fun. You're welcome to sprinkle “yurt” in your conversation, too, fun for the whole family.
or
click for slightly larger version
update here.
