Maine is a rugged, beautiful state in the northeastern US, with a population of just over one million people. It is possible to drive through the state for hours without seeing a house or another person, and the flora, fauna, and wildlife that call the region home, dominate the landscape. People from all over the world come to enjoy the moderate summers and rocky coastline, but leave again to avoid the difficult and lengthy winters. Those hardy people who stay in Maine year round, are, for the most part, highly environmentally conscious, and adept at outdoor living. One of the most well respected members of Maine’s environmental community is yurt builder and President of the Yurt Foundation, Dr. William Coperthwaite.
Dr. William Coperthwaite
Dr. Coperthwaite’s fascination with yurt-building and habitation began in the early 60s, when he was looking at a National Geographic spread on Mongolian yurts. A skilled craftsman and designer, he developed a tapered wall yurt that could be constructed by just about anyone, regardless of their level of carpentry skill, and with a minimum of materials. Over the years he has continued to generate innovative yurt designs, and is continually refining how yurts are built. He travels extensively, visiting yurt-building indigenous populations in order to learn about ways in which their far more sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices can be applied to life in urban areas. In 2004, he published a book about yurt design, sustainable living, and the development of the yurt lifestyle in the modern world called, “A Handmade Life”. The book won numerous awards, including the 2004 Nautilus Award, and was subsequently translated into Korean.
The Yurt Foundation
Dr. Coperthwaite founded the Yurt Foundation, which is housed in a large, hand-built yurt in Machiasport, Maine, to further the study of, and the dissemination of information about, indigenous cultures. The Foundation is a non-profit and is devoted to education and the collection of folk knowledge from around the world. Dr. Coperthwaite teaches courses there year-round, as well as traveling, to pass his knowledge and experience on to other people or communities interested in constructing yurts and living off of the land. He conducts crafts workshops in which participants learn how to use hand tools to make what they need to live comfortably, including chairs and bowls. The class also addresses ideas surrounding ‘democratic design’, and how design choices can influence the community. He also holds regular yurt building workshops in which groups can learn how to build a tapered-wall yurt and the proper tools to use. The workshops last anywhere from 5-10 days and are supplemented with historical data and photographs of the many yurts with which he has come in contact over the years.
Yurt Construction
Based on his travels around the world, and the often-extreme weather conditions encountered in Maine, Dr. Coperthwaite developed multiple styles of yurt. What he calls the 'standard yurt' is the least difficult to construct, utilizes the tapered wall design, and is ideal for a workspace or as a short-term space for family or guests. The ‘concentric yurt’ is a far more complicated design, but it provides the most consistently comfortably living space. This yurt is essentially one yurt inside the other, with the inner yurt partially supporting the outer yurt. The ‘concentric yurt’ design includes 26 windows that go around the entire structure, as well as a raised floor for additional space. This is the design most commonly used for people who actually plan to live in their yurt year-round. Finally, the ‘family yurt’ is one that can be built in stages, so that if gathering money for materials, or finding the materials themselves, becomes problematic, the future tenants can still live comfortably as they continue to add-on. For people who have decided that they want to begin the yurt construction process on their own, the Yurt Foundation offers yurt construction plans in various styles.
Moving Forward
There are yurt communities all over the globe, and it is possible to buy a yurt pre-made, or construct one yourself. If the pace and relentless energy of the city is getting you down, try spending a few days in a yurt. There is something magical about the energy that collects inside these simple, small, round homes, that is truly refreshing. The next time you catch yourself pulling your berkline chairs up in front of the television; think about how nice it would feel to put your feet up in an inexpensive low-impact yurt. Dr. Coperthwaite saw the possibilities back in the early 60s. Now it is our turn to join his quest for yurt innovation.
Izzy Woods is a freelance travel writer and keen supporter of simpler living and sustainability. She writes on behalf of a number of sites to fund her vagrant living, including a Lane Furniture retailer among others.
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