the Yurt
The Yurt : July 13, 2006 This is my 20 foot-wide yurt on an island off the coast of Portland, Maine. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside is a mystery of light and space. I built it as a means to have a place I could live in when others were using my family's cabin, because I want to live simply during months when it is feasible. The aesthetics of living in a building where you can hear the birds, the ocean, the wind--all very clearly--is very different from those of living in a building where you hear televisions, cars, loud music you may or may not like. Living without electricity really gets you to think about energy and light. Living without running water really gets you to think about how much water you use daily generally when in contemporary housing. That awareness can bring a greater appreciation and value to resources we take for granted. Summer 2006 readings: Gawande, Atul. "The Malpractice Mess: Dealing with Doctors' Mistakes." (2005,