Looking to create an extra living space or even somewhere to self-isolate? This DIY yurt could be the perfect solution…
The Woodenwidget Plurt could be a game-changer in ‘small living’. Designed to have a low-cost and hassle-free assembly process, once built, the Plurt is an extremely versatile, comfortable and eco-friendly living space. It is claimed to be perfect for those looking for an additional space, or even those in need of somewhere to self-isolate…
The Plurt is based on the design of the traditional yurt, a portable round tent from Central Asia, but is has a host of advantages over a traditional yurt. Weighing just 250 kilos, this insulated yurt is extremely easy to assemble, transport and store.
The building process does not require specific skills or machinery and the step-by-step illustrated instructions which you can buy for £80 walk you through the entire building process.
The Plurt can be assembled by one person with confidence in using a few basic power tools in 200 hours of building and at a cost of approximately €3,000.
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Every effort has been made to keep the cost of building as low as possible, and the custom-made panels make the Plurt’s low-waste design the perfect eco-friendly addition to your outside space.
- What’s a yurt?
- A traditional yurt (from the Turkic languages) or ger (Mongolian) is a portable, round tent covered with skins or felt and used as a dwelling by several distinct nomadic groups in the steppes of Central Asia.
- The structure consists of an angled assembly or latticework of wood or bamboo for walls, a door frame, ribs (poles, rafters), and a wheel (crown, compression ring) possibly steam-bent.
- The roof structure is often self-supporting, but large yurts may have interior posts supporting the crown. The top of the wall of self-supporting yurts is prevented from spreading by means of a tension band which opposes the force of the roof ribs.
- Modern yurts may be permanently built on a wooden platform; they may use modern materials such as steam-bent wooden framing or metal framing, canvas or tarpaulin, Plexiglas dome, wire rope, or radiant insulation.
- The first written description of a yurt used as a dwelling was recorded by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. He described yurt-like tents as the dwelling place of the Scythians, a horse-riding nomadic nation who lived in the northern Black Sea and Central Asian region from around 600 BC to AD 300
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Perspex dome
With a diameter of 5 metres and a maximum internal height of 2.3 metres, the Plurt is designed to get maximum use and versatility out of a small space. The wall panels are also interchangeable, enabling you to modify the layout. A perspex dome covers the hole at the top letting in light and can be raised or lowered easily. Opening windows can also be fitted, allowing for good ventilation and an abundance of natural light, both essential elements for yurt living! If required, a small wood stove can even be installed with the chimney exiting through a wall panel.
The Plurt is fully insulated and is therefore durable in all weather. The panels are bonded using the highest quality waterproof wood glue and once painted, they can last almost indefinitely. You can even add your own personal touch to your design by varnishing or painting the panels in any colour you like. The panels are filled with XPS (extruded polystyrene insulation), making them very light yet immensely strong. The roof panels are designed to shed water, creating a simple guttering system and redirecting rainwater to prevent leakage.
- Specifications:
- Diameter: 5m (16′)
- Wall panel height: 1.2 m (1.5 m option) (4′ with 5′ option)
- Max internal height: 2.3m (2.6 m option) (7.55′ with 8.5′ option)
- Roof angle: 26 degrees
- Weight: approx 250 kilos (550lbs)
- Cost to build: Approx 3000€
- Floor area: 20 sq m (215 sq’)
For buying options and additional details on the specification and construction of the Plurt, visit the website at www.woodenwidget.com or email info@woodenwidget.com
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“The Woodenwidget Plurt could be a game-changer in ‘small living’. Designed to have a low-cost and hassle-free assembly process, once built, the Plurt is an extremely versatile.”
Other products from Wooden Widget include the Slidavan, a telescopic two-berth caravan: the Hoopy, a wooden bicycle; the Foldak, a 12-foot folding canoe; the Fliptail, a simple and stable wooden dinghy; the Stasha, a lightweight nesting dinghy; and the Foldavan, a teardrop-shaped bicycle caravan which concertinas down to 21cm in height.
