GETTING BACK TO NATURE
Is It For You?
Yurts! Have you ever dreamed of living in one? A yurt is a round cylindrical dwelling capped with a conic roof that’s been in use for at least the past few thousand years. Originating in Central Asia (Genghis Khan and his horde used them), the yurt was valued by its native progenitors for its portability, durability, and structural soundness.
Today’s yurts retain the same overall design principles as their East Asian ancestors, but they include modern materials like clear acrylic windows, high-strength steel cables, and UV-resistant marine quality polyester siding. Nowadays you can get a yurt with French doors, windows, gutters and skylights. Yurts can be found high up on mountains serving backcountry skiers, nestled deep in the woods housing campers and hikers, and next to rivers as the primary residence of former insurance executives.
THE MODERN YURT
Yurt design has been pushed far beyond felted wool mats and sapling roof struts. The modern yurt can be decked out with high-efficiency curved glass windows, space-age insulation, and clear translucent vinyl skylights. Modern yurts can be built to withstand heavy snow fall or optimized to handle hot tropical climates. So, have we piqued your interest? Here’s one yurt you just might want to call your own.
Situated on 37.5 acres of land directly connected to the Appalachian Trail, this luxury yurt-style home in Poughquag, New York in Dutchess County, is a nature lover’s dream. Experience sunrises and sunsets year-round from your extremely private home on a hill. The two yurts, designed by architect Matthew Smith, are connected by a gracefully curved breezeway that allows for separate but connected living.
The main yurt features a welcoming layout encompassing a chef’s kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and spacious bathroom. Each room off the main living area is accented with their own antique pocket doors. Expansive windows off the living room provide panoramic views of the valley below, showcasing the charming red barns of an animal sanctuary and rolling hills extending to the horizon. In the kitchen, a large walk-in pantry is a homemaker’s dream, and the marble countertops are complemented by a handmade butcher block island that reveals a hidden induction oven, emphasizing both functionality and style.
On the lofted second floor, the master bedroom takes center stage, strategically positioned beneath a rounded skylight that allows you to sleep under the stars. A smaller yurt adjacent to the main structure serves as a versatile space, currently utilized as a guest suite with amenities like a freestanding black bathtub, washer-dryer, and wood-burning stove.
