Yurt: nomad tent

The word "yurt" is derived from the Russian yurt, borrowed from a Turkish language (sleeping quarters). A yurt is a traditional round felt tent with vertical walls, inhabited by itinerant families of cattle nomads in the cold dry steppe areas of Central Asia. Different construction techniques and shapes are used regionally. In Mongolia she is called a "ger".

The frame for the walls is a fine-meshed scissor-shaped hinged wooden slat. The solid larch door has a strong frame, and is oriented to the south. The thick wool felt cloth is sufficient for a one-off rain shower in Mongolia. Elsewhere there is a waterproof, preferably breathable (canvas) layer, and nowadays often also a polyester cover needed. A central hoop in the roof provides daylight and a passage for the stove pipe.

New age people find the yurt  interesting because of the low price, the low ecological load, the easy movability and the fairly good thermal insulation. They see the yurt as a way to live simpler, more independent and close to nature.

Caravan: itinerant life

Flexible and mobile living on wheels is possible with a living wagon or caravan (recreational)

In Belgium, the decorative Buggenhout trailers ('gypsy wagons') with a lot of carvings were much sought after. They were very beautiful and light enough to move around with one or two horses.

Mobile homes are often luxurious bungalows with theoretical 'pro forma' wheels to comply with legal requirements.

Tiny house, mini house as a lifestyle

Wealth and as a status symbol does not necessarily make happy. Since the 2007 Housing and Credit Crisis, there has been a lot of interest in modest and small living, in a Tiny House (often on wheels) between 15 and 50 m² or a Small Houses up to 90 m². You can transport a maximum of 3.5 tons with a trailer. You can connect a unit to the grid, or live off-the-grid with solar panels, rainwater recovery and a compost toilet.

You live cheap and sustainable, but for the time being with vague legislation. It is unclear whether it belongs under a caravan, annex or house, and the regulations still differ from municipality to municipality.

For direct debit you often have to look for loopholes. A cohousing project with common areas that count as habitable surface can be a solution. Or officially domicile elsewhere.

These forms of housing are also often used temporarily or offered recreationally (holiday accommodation, camping).

You can find other forms of housing at Better World, under Living and living together.