| Residential Architecture, 2nd prize |
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The Kazaks' Yurt
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| Wang Minbin(China) |
| The Kazaks in China's northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region lead a nomadic life. As seasons change, they move from one pasture to another to tend their herds. For thousands of years, they have never settled down in one place. Thus living in yurts became one important aspect of their customs. | ||
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| 2. The structure of a yurt is simple they are easy to assemble and disassemble. | ||
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| 4. A yurt is usually 3 meters high, covering a area of 20 to 30 sq. The main pillars are made of high quality wood. | ||
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| 5. The interior decoration of a yurt is carefully arranged. Besides the door lie cooking utensils and groceries. A large carpet is laid in the center where main activities, such as dinning, receiving guests, are carried out. On the walls hang tapestries in various colors, which provide insulation, as well as decoration. | ||
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| 7. The Kazaks also use an even simpler yurt, which is in shape of a cone and covered with felt. This type of yurt, far easier to handle, is mostly used as an interim dwellings for traveling herdsmen. | ||
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| 8. The felt used for the construction of yurts is hand-made by industrious Kazak women. They first loosen the wool, they spread water on it and press it many times until it becomes solid. | ||
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| 9. The main structural components of a yurt are carefully made with delicate workmanship. They are assembled together with cattlehide ropes without even a single iron nail being used. | ||
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| 10. The yurt is truly a convenience to the herdsman's life. Two camels can carry all of a family's property. |
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