Romans and Yurts

The last group's discussion of gardens reminded me of an article I just read in Sierra magazine on yurts. The group, in talking about gardens and Roman architecture, noted how walls served the Romans as protection, but not to separate the house's interior from the natural world. The barrier between the natural world and the interior world is thus less apparent. This was contrasted to the Greeks, who seemed to want to overcome or ignore the natural world.

Yurts are a form of portable housing used by nomads in central Asia. In a way, they are the Asian equivalent of teepees. The walls of both teepees and yurts are made from naturally available sources. Traditional yurts are made of wood and felt just as teepees are traditionally made of wood and hides. The article I read was written by an American who was won over by a modern yurt. Modern yurts are not really portable and may feature such modern amenities such as indoor plumbing, but retain the thin walls and circular structure of traditional yurts. The thing that captured my attention was how the writer described her closer connection to nature. She could hear "a rushing mountain creek, trees blowing in the wind, and the occasional coyote serenade" through the thin walls.

In this way, yurts may be a way in which a more Roman-like appreciation of nature is becoming apparent in American life. Instead of houses that boast about their ability to block out nature, perhaps we'll see houses that provide the functionality of a house in ways that let us better appreciate and integrate with the rest of nature.

-Tyler Wake