Create yourself a comfortable living space: a spare bedroom, office, studio, sauna, or whatever else you can dream up. The 18-foot yurt is an excellent shelter option that provides comfortable living arrangements for all four seasons. Working with an experienced builder, students will construct a simple yurt, complete with a door and two windows, ready to be loaded into the car on the last day. This includes constructing the wooden framework and sewing the fabric cover, building the rafter ring, windows, and door. The skylight and windows are made of Lexan plexiglass and the cover is sewn from durable acrylic-coated polyester (choice in color may be possible). To make this large project possible, students also need to recruit a group of assistants who journey to North House together to participate in the project (minimum group size 4, max 6). This is a big project compacted into a short amount of time. Participants will need to be physically prepared for intensive use of power tools (no prior knowledge needed, just ability), full days of repetitive handwork, and the use of industrial sewing machines. Helpers need to be at least 16 years of age. We’ll have fun and take breaks, but this is an intensive course. Be prepared to work hard all day and be diligent and focused.

Tution and Materials Fee

Total cost of the project including tuition and materials will start at $7550 and increase depending on the options selected (see below). A $3000 deposit is required to reserve your space in this class.

Students will have options to upgrade the windows and door to double-pane glass for an additional materials cost. They may also choose to add an additional day to the course to sew an insulating liner for the yurt.

Estimated optional costs:

• Double-pane Glass: market value

• Insulating Liner: approximately $1500 materials + tuition

• Please note that these options will increase the size of the load you’ll have to haul home.

Tools and Materials

Nearly all required materials will be provided for. Your instructor will discuss any additional or optional materials/tools for the project three weeks prior to the start of the course. Students should plan to bring a minimum of 3 additional participants (tuition is included) to help with the project.

Cancellation Policy

Given the unique nature and small size of this course, please note that North House uses separate tuition payment and cancellation policies for managing this course. The intent of these policies is to ensure that all students can be confident that the course will occur as planned once adequate enrollment is achieved. Specifics of these policies are as follows: upon enrollment, a registration deposit of at least half of the project cost is required, more than sixty (60) days prior to the course all but $100 of the registration deposit is refundable, sixty (60) to thirty (30) days prior to the course the entire registration is nonrefundable, at thirty (30) days prior to the course the balance of the tuition payment is due all of which is nonrefundable. Should North House be required to cancel the course, all tuition payments will be refunded.

Application Process

North House receives numerous inquiries and requests for the Build Your Own (BYO )Yurt courses, which are offered only twice annually. To improve the process for considering potential projects and make the process fair and transparent, individuals and groups must apply for these project slots. The application period is from July 14- August 11 in 2023. As part of our not-for-profit mission and interest in promoting affordable housing and sustainability, North House will prioritize projects that will serve as a primary residence for the builders. When the application period is closed, interested students should add themselves to the waiting list in order to be contacted when the next round of applications is opened.

The 2023 Application period is now closed.

2023 Timeline 

July 14: application period opens for two sessions, December 12-15 and December 18-22

August 11: application closes, 5pm.

August 16: participants notified of selection; $3000 deposit due within two weeks

October 12: deposit is no longer refundable; instructor must be notified of any add’l options (door, windows, liner) desired

November 12: Final payment is due (total depends on selected options) 

December 12: Session 1

December 18: Session 2