Harnessing Traditional Living Experience to Foster Resilience in Modern Living

Vernacular dwellings like yurts (nomadic tents) can be drastically different from modern housing, yet they offer valuable lessons for enhancing the resilience of contemporary inhabitants. This study compared indoor temperatures during winter in modern timber apartments with those in yurts used for different lifestyles. Indoor air temperatures were measured in 4 nomadic yurts in Tuva, 2 urban yurts (gers) in Mongolia, and a camping yurt in Switzerland during winter 2019-2020. Two modern timber dwellings in Switzerland had measurements taken in Jan-Feb 2021. For the urban yurt scenario, three different heating methods (a cast-iron stove, an electric heater, and a combination of both) and two envelope options (traditional cover U=0.9 W/m2K and improved insulation U=0.4 W/m2K) were evaluated. The outdoor winter air temperature was -22.6±3.8°C in Tuva and -16.4±6.7°C in Mongolia, compared to +2.3±3.7°C in Switzerland. Indoor temperature variations were significant in the yurts using traditional heating methods like a cast iron stove (14.1±11.2°C in yurts and 23.4±8.2°C in gers). However, when an electric heater and additional envelope insulation were introduced in gers, the temperature variation decreased twofold. The indoor temperature variation was minimal (21±1.8oC) in the modern, well-insulated (U=0.14 W/m²K) apartments with radiant floor heating. As lifestyles shift from nomadic to modern sedentary, people spend more time indoors, disconnecting from the natural environment. Switching to modern heating methods helps maintain remarkably consistent indoor temperatures, regardless of occupant presence. Modern apartments, equipped with climate control and insulation, maintain a narrow range of indoor temperatures, while nomadic yurts allow for much less temperature regulation despite extreme outdoor conditions. Relying heavily on strict indoor climate control may lead occupants to expect a narrow comfort range, which could make them less resilient to the extreme temperature shifts brought by climate change. To address this, modern building designs should allow for a wider range of indoor temperatures, helping occupants build tolerance and adapt to changing outdoor conditions.