[expand]The lattice framework was collapsible structure. The wooden poles bound with leather strips at crossing points formed diamond pattern—the sections folding flat for transport, expanding into circles when erected, and connecting end-to-end creating continuous wall. The lattice sections numbered perhaps four to eight depending on yurt size—the larger dwellings requiring more sections, the small portable versions using minimal framework. The lattice quality determined structural integrity—the well-made sections with tight joinery lasted years, the shoddy construction with loose bindings failed during first storm, and the regular inspection preventing catastrophic collapse by identifying weak sections before failure.
The door frame provided rigid structure. Unlike flexible lattice walls, the door frame was solid construction—two vertical posts supporting horizontal lintel, the threshold step, and the rigid rectangle maintaining precise opening despite lattice’s flexibility. The door frame was heavy—perhaps twenty to thirty kilograms—but essential for structural stability and functional entrance. The frame was carefully protected during transport—the damage rendering yurt assembly impossible, the replacement requiring substantial carpentry, and the loss potentially dooming family to shelter-less existence until replacement could be constructed or acquired.
The roof poles radiated from center. The straight wooden poles—perhaps sixty to one hundred depending on yurt size—extended from crown ring to lattice wall’s top edge, creating conical roof structure supporting felt covering. The roof poles were carefully selected—straight-grained wood without excessive knots, the length matching yurt dimensions, and the strength adequate for bearing felt’s weight plus occasional snow accumulation. The poles were tied to lattice and inserted into crown ring’s mortises, the connections requiring precision preventing poles from slipping and causing collapse.
The crown ring was compression structure. The wooden hoop perhaps one and half to two meters diameter formed roof’s peak—the roof poles radiating outward like spokes, the smoke hole opening allowing ventilation, and the structural ring being strongest component bearing concentrated loads from converging poles. The crown was decorated often—the carved patterns, the painted designs, and the sacred symbols marking family identity. The crown’s weight was substantial—fifteen to twenty kilograms—but was transported carefully as irreplaceable component that couldn’t be improvised if lost.
[/expand]