Yurt living in New Zealand is not a new phenomenon, with many dotted around rural and urban sites.

In Dunedin there is a Rudolf Steiner School where large yurts are used as classrooms, and here in Nelson many of us have enjoyed the ambience of the large yurt used as a performance venue at The Freehouse.

But what are they like to live in? I decided to visit some rural folk living in yurts on an organic farm along West Bank Rd in the Motueka Valley. Kris Kolff initially lived on the farm in a caravan but could see this was not a long-term option for him. He found some information on the internet about yurts and this led him to buy a second-hand seven-metre diameter one for $7000. Kris says living in the yurt has been fantastic and in the five years he's been there he's never been happier.

Yurts have been home to indigenous people from Turkey to Siberia since the 13th century, but we most commonly associate yurts, or gers, with Mongolia.

Today, in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, with a population of one million, more than 43,000 people still live permanently in yurts.

They were traditionally made with timber lattice walls and a timber framed domed roof, covered in felted sheep wool. The Mongolians pride themselves in the finishing details and traditionally add beautifully carved doors and brightly painted furniture.

A yurt is a perfect example of vernacular architecture, meaning it's made from locally grown or sourced materials resulting in a dwelling fitting perfectly into the surroundings. As the felts wore out, these would be returned to the environment and new ones added, so that the yurt was passed down through generations of the same family.

In the Nelson region there are two local companies specialising in the design and construction of yurts; Jaia Tipis in Golden Bay and Origin Tentmakers based in Motueka.

The local designers substitute traditional felt with waterproof canvas while using original design principles: essentially double "skinned", and the walls and roof can also be insulated using either wool or a Dacron "blanket".

Inside Kris' yurt there's a woodstove, double bed, a living space with numerous armchairs, a kitchen table plus various other pieces of furniture, none of which clutter the space. It feels cosy and yet there is plenty of room to move, aided by the dome roof and fantastic light within the space.

Kris has an additional front porch with an awning, offering an outdoor eating space, or just somewhere to sit and read. He says the yurt is very low maintenance, with the roof needing replacing about every 15 years, and the walls less often. He loves the natural materials and also the fact that the circular shape allows everything to fit within it, without sharp corners or hard edges. Plus they are a lot easier to heat than a conventional home, and are extremely warm in winter and cool in summer.

Nick Mintern and Jenni Burt also live on the farm in a straw bale house, but they previously lived in a six-metre diameter yurt. Jenni started off living in a teepee, and the next logical step was a yurt which she purchased from Jaia Tipis at a total cost, including a separately built floor, of $14,000.

She specified the number and shape of windows, some of which unzip and roll up. The door is made of beautiful solid timber, with a hand-made latch instead of a traditional door knob. The lattice is made from locally grown lawson's cypress.

Nick says he really misses the feeling of living in a round space which he describes as very feminine. They now have a young son, Sequoia, and need more space, but still use the yurt as a music studio/office, and for visitor accommodation.

Nick says the acoustics are perfect for recording music, plus the walls provide good soundproofing with their thick insulation.

There's a special spot in every yurt, right below the centre hole, which magnifies one's voice when singing or chanting.

It's easy to see the merits of yurt living as sustainable instant shelter, especially for situations like post-earthquake accommodation, because they are affordable, flexible structures which are easily erected.