Circle Houses: Yurts, Tipis and Benders - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1890132861 ISBN 13: 9781890132866

Publisher: Chelsea Green Pub Co, 2001

Synopsis

Among nomadic peoples, round-shaped homes, echoing natural forms, have sheltered families since the dawn of recorded time. The natural world is filled with circles, but it's surprising how unusual circular houses are in industrialized society. In our disconnected world, the circle has given way to the box.
As David Pearson explains in his introduction, "Like our nomadic ancestors, many of us have a deep yearning to roam with the seasons and be close to nature and the cosmos. The traditional forms of the yurt, tipi, and bender are the apogee of this experience. . . . Nomadic populations live in some of the most inhospitable and barren regions of the world and this is why they are nomads. Whether it be the deserts of the Sahara and Gobi, the steppes of Mongolia, or the polar tundras, these vast areas are either too hot and arid or too cold and windswept to be cultivated. An African grass-covered hut, a Romany gypsy 'bender,' an Asian yurt, or a Native American tipi are all perfect lessons in appropriate design and sustainable building. Refined over generations, they are simple yet sophisticated, beautiful and comfortable."
Remarkable for their economy, resilience, and portability, these structures have continued to exert a powerful appeal in modern times. And beyond practicality, what the circle dwellers in this book speak of most eloquently is the incomparable spiritual resonance of round homes, which "represent the universe in microcosm: the floor (Earth), the roof (sky), and the hole in the roof (the sun)."
Circle Houses is a fascinating glimpse of tradition meeting timelessness, filled with stories of 21st-century nomads and complete with basic instructions for designing and constructing your own yurt, tipi, or bent-frame tent.

About this title

About the Author

David Pearson is an architect and the author of several acclaimed books on natural design, including The Natural House Book, The Natural House Catalog, and Organic Architecture. He is also the author and editor of Treehouses, the first volume in the House that Jack Built series published by Chelsea Green. Pearson lives in London, England.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

"A MAN'S TENT IS LIKE A GOD'S TEMPLE."

(Kyrgyz proverb)
Today, many of us share a desire to be free and experience the pleasures of living lightly on the Earth. Like our nomadic ancestors, many of us have a deep inner yearning to roam with the seasons and be close to nature and the cosmos. The traditional forms of the yurt, tipi, and bender are the apogee of this experience and are far more satisfying than any modern Western style tent. Being mainly circular in shape, they bring another dimension to the experience of free living-living in the round. It is difficult to define why circular spaces hold such a special magic and fascination. Maybe it is their natural affinity with the cycle of life-the movement of the sun, moon, and stars, and the cycle of the seasons. Maybe it is some archetypal memory of, and resonance with, former circle homes and round houses of our forebears. Whatever it is, you will be pleasantly surprised at the happy and peaceful effect that circular structures will have on you!
Nomadic populations usually live in some of the most inhospitable and barren regions of the world and this is why they are nomads. Whether it be the deserts of the Sahara and Gobi, the steppes of Russia, or the tundras of the Poles, these vast areas are either too hot and or too cold and windswept to be cultivated and support much population. Human inhabitants have little choice but to live off the scarce resources. These are quickly exhausted, so it is soon time to move or follow animal migratory routes. People living in these conditions have to be remarkably ingenious and adaptable. This is shown in everything they do including the structures they build. An African grass-covered hut, a Romany gypsy "bender", and Asian yurt or a Native American tipi, are all perfect lessons in appropriate design and sustainable building. Refined over generations, they are simple yet sophisticated, beautiful and comfortable.

About this edition

• Publisher: Chelsea Green Pub Co
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1890132861
• ISBN 13: 9781890132866
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 96