Something That Bit Special
We made our first Glass Wall Yurt in 2013, working with a pair of amazing artists from Norway who wanted something that bit special.
The idea was to take everything we loved about our insulated yurts and open the space to a vast amount of natural light and the landscape outside.
The effect was immediate. It completely transformed the yurt.
What was exciting was that we had not lost the yurt in the process. It still had that wonderful enclosed feeling, the natural chestnut frame, the solid oak crown, the beautiful proportions and all the warmth and character that make a yurt such a remarkable space. But now there was this great opening of glass and light.
Suddenly the landscape became part of the room.
That first yurt felt fresh and exciting, and it still does. There is something about bringing this ancient structure together with large areas of glass that just works. Ancient and modern, sitting together beautifully.
Since then we have made Glass Wall yurts for homes, studios, yoga spaces, schools, workrooms and retreats across Europe, and they have become a big part of what we do.
Customers often talk about the “wow factor”. I know exactly what they mean. You walk into one and the whole place comes alive.
If you have a beautiful site, a particular view, or simply an idea you want to explore, tell me about it. You do not need to work out the glass first. That is something we can work out together.
“I cannot recommend the Yurt Workshop, Rob and Ratna more highly. The yurts are absolutely stunning. They are not only visually beautiful but also extremely well made. The canvas colour is very stylish and the Moorish doors and windows give the whole yurt such a unique look.” Shana, UK
Craftsmanship and Innovation
We did not want to make a yurt and then bolt some windows onto it.
By the time we started developing the Glass Wall we had already spent years studying traditional yurt construction and making yurts ourselves. We knew the proportions of the wall, roof and crown matter, and that changing one part affects the balance of the whole thing.
So the glass had to become part of the structure.
The full-glass doors, fixed windows and opening windows are built into natural chestnut frame sections and made as part of the yurt itself.
We have refined the system ever since. Frame sizes, doors, windows, the way the sections join and the amount of glass we recommend have all developed through actually making and using these yurts.
There is no standard Glass Wall Yurt. That is part of the pleasure of them.
Craftsmanship and innovation. That is what the Glass Wall Yurt is really about.
Light and the View Outside
The Glass Wall completely changes the relationship between the yurt and its surroundings.
A vast amount of daylight can come directly into the side of the yurt. The colours and textures inside come alive, and the landscape becomes part of the room.
On the right site, the effect can be extraordinary.
After 11 years of daily use: “I would not change a thing. It is perfect.” Jan and Bjorn, Norway
How Much Glass Do You Want?
There isn't a standard Glass Wall Yurt.
You can have a relatively small glazed section, or you can open up a much larger part of the wall. On bigger yurts we can create broad glass frontages with double full-glass doors, fixed windows and opening windows.
The four arrangements below are some of the layouts we use quite often, but they are starting points rather than fixed packages.
The best arrangement depends on the yurt, the view, where you want the entrance and what you want to do inside.
Glass Wall Design 1
A full-glass door with one fixed window. A simple way of opening part of the yurt to the view and bringing in a generous amount of natural light.
Glass Wall Design 2
A full-glass door, fixed window and opening window. This gives plenty of light and a view, with the added benefit of an opening window for ventilation.
Glass Wall Design 3
A full-glass door with two fixed windows and one opening window, creating a wider glazed frontage while still leaving plenty of conventional wall space inside.
Glass Wall Design 4
Double full-glass doors with a fixed window and an opening window on each side. This creates our broadest glazed frontage and works particularly well on bigger yurts and sites where the view is an important part of the space.
Working Out the Glass Wall
The best arrangement depends on the size of the yurt, where the main view is, where you want the entrance and what you want to do inside.
Full-glass doors, fixed windows, opening windows and conventional wall sections can all be combined. There is usually a balance between glass, ventilation, privacy and useful wall space.
I am very happy to help work that out with you. Tell me what the site is like and what you have in mind. You do not need to arrive with a finished Glass Wall design.
Insulated for Year-Round Use
Most of the Glass Wall yurts we make are built around our insulated-yurt construction.
This gives you the warmth and substance of the wool-insulated yurt together with all that glass and natural light.
They include 100% natural wool felt, a bright inner lining and our double-canvas roof system, and are made for use throughout the year.
Thinking About a Glass Wall Yurt?
Glass Wall yurts are very individual. The size, the site, the view and what you want to do inside all affect what will work best.
You do not need to work all of that out yourself.
Tell me what you are thinking about, even if it is only the beginning of an idea. We can work through the size and Glass Wall arrangement together.
Once we have a clear idea of what you want, I will prepare a detailed estimate showing exactly what is included.
A 50% deposit confirms the order and puts your yurt into our workshop schedule. The remaining balance is due one week before dispatch. Delivery is quoted separately.