The Mongols once had the largest contiguous empire in history, with their conquests covering 12 million square miles. While little is left of that legacy, their contribution to design remains in the form of yurts.

Yurts are circular structures comprised of felt stretched over wooden skeletons. Perfect for nomads, the structures broke down and set up quickly, while adequately keeping the elements out. In addition, the circular shape provided good heat distribution in winter.

Modern yurts now exist in the form of The Nomad, an eco-friendly yurt kit designed by Stephanie Smith and sold by Ecoshack. You can put one up yourself in about an hour, and you don't need to conquer anybody to call them home.