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National Institute of Technology, Miyakonojo College Research Book, 2016
Study on the Current Situation of Traditional
Dwelling in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Gonchigbat Ishjamts*, Amgalan Sukhbaatar*, Hirofumi Sugimoto**
* Department of Architecture, Mongolian University of Science and Technology
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
** National Institute of Technology (NIT), Miyakonojo College
Miyakonojo, Japan
Abstract: The 21.8 % of the total population of Ulaanbaatar city is living in ger dwellings at the informal settlement where
the water, heating, sanitation, public transportation, social services and recreational amenities for the residents are lacking. This
study aims to evaluate and to compare the living condition as well as the living environment of the residents living in both of the
traditional and modern housing types. Additionally, the study aims to clarify how ger dwelling which was originally invented for
nomadic lifestyle, is functioning in the settled living environment. As a result, the study revealed the following findings: 1)
nomadic lifestyle is being shifted gradually into the sedentary life, 2) the average floor area of the small 5 khanas ger is 19.3 m²,
3) in the ger area, there are no places that are used as social, cultural, commercial and recreational facilities, 4) some of the
residents prefer living in improved ger dwelling with the traditional lifestyle and so on.
Keywords: ger area, informal settlement, housing
I. INTRODUCTION
The main comfortable living environment of the human
being is their dwelling. A ger, Mongolian traditional
dwelling, has been an important part of the development of
the architecture in Mongolia. The development of this felt
dwelling which was the main dwelling type of ancient
nomadic pastoralists living in the current Mongolian
territory has 2,500 – 3,000 years of rich history [1]. During
the long time evolution, the structure, the form, and the
design of ger has been changed and shifted into its modern
form.
Ger dwelling is widespread among Mongolia, Inner
Mongolia, Buryat, Kalmyk, Altai people, Kazakhs, and
Kirghiz [1]. The ger dwelling is a housing type which has a
unique design of architecture for good mobility and
durability.
Due to the increase of suburban residential area of
migrated new-comers to Ulaanbaatar city, many ger
settlements are being spread in the urban fringes. According
to the Ulaanbaatar city statistical report (2012), nearly 81.6
thousand of the total 184.2 thousand families in suburban
residential areas are living in gers, and 100.3 thousand
families are living in low storey, self-made houses [5].
The percentages of the population of Ulaanbaatar city at
the total population of Mongolia were 14.0 % in 1956, and
22.3 % in 1969, 43.6 % in 2010, and 46 % which is 1.31
million in the end of 2012. Increasing migration from
countryside to the city formulates continuing occupancy in
Ulaanbaatar. Mass part of the population is living in ger
settlements in the spreading urban sprawl with gers and low
storey houses.
II. METHODOLOGY
In order to compare the living conditions in ger housing
environments, the questionnaire survey with 100 random
samples from the urban fringe areas (Amgalan, Shar-Khad,
Doloon Buudal) and the ger areas near to the city center
(Televiz, Black market, Dari-Ekh) was conducted in
September 2015. After collecting the questionnaires, the
basic quantitative data was analyzed.
"
Fig. 1. Study area in Ulaanbaatar city
Following factors are analyzed in this study: Number of
ger dwellings (per total population of Mongolia and
Ulaanbaatar), household size, ger floor area, engineering
supply system (water supply, waste water system, heating
and electric supply system etc.), road and pedestrian
"14
National Institute of Technology, Miyakonojo College Research Book, 2016
environment, improvement of open space, sanitation
condition (waste disposal), public transportation and social
services – educational, health care and cultural amenities.
III. FINDINGS
III.1. Number of the households living in ger housing
The housing demand is defined by the housing type,
floor area, and the household size [2]. In Ulaanbaatar, 21.8
% of the total households are living in ger housing and 78.2
% are living in house and apartments. While in countryside,
89.9 % of the total population is living in ger housing and
remaining 10.1 % are living in house and apartments [4].
TABLE 1. Housing condition in national scale
(by percentage) [4]
Fig. 2. Ger dwellings in Ulaanbaatar
III.2. Land ownership for the ger land parcel and ger
floor area
According to the Law on Land Ownership of Mongolia,
Mongolian citizen has a right to own the given size of land
for housing. The land size which is designated for the
household ownership in Ulaanbaatar is up to 0.07 hectare
[3]. According to the questionnaire survey, the average size
of the household owning land (hashaa) is 0.07 ha.
The questionnaire survey of this study was conducted
among 100 households. The household size differs as more
than 7 size household is 3.45 %, 6-7 size household is 5.76
%, 3-4 size household is 45.98 %, 4-5 size household is
24.14 %, and 1-2 size household is 20.69 %.
"
Fig.3. Household size
According to Ulaanbaatar city annual statistical report
(2012), 60.0 % which is 184.2 thousand of the total
population are living in the ger settlement and 40.0 % which
is 122.6 thousand are living in apartment districts. The
average household size is 3.9 [5].
TABLE 2. Number of household living in ger housing,
household size and size of the ger (by khana) [4]
Above table shows that 4,967 household which is 55.3 %
of total population in the country level are living in
relatively big gers which have 5 khanas [4]. Findings of this
study survey also show that 74% of sample households are
living in gers which have small 5 khanas. Regarding to
these statistics, 5 khana ger is average and relevant size for
the ger housing at this time.
"
Fig. 4. Average ger size (number of khanas)
III.3. Road and pedestrian environment
Location
Total
household
Housing type, %
Apartment
Ger
Total
541,149
49.1
50.9
Ulaanbaatar
161,273
78.2
21.8
Province center
118,104
62.5
37.5
Village
17,021
73.9
26.1
Sum center
85,281
43.3
56.7
Countryside
159,479
10.1
89.9
3,45%
5,75%
24,14%
45,98%
20,69%
1-2
3-4
4-5
6-7
more than 7
Number
of house
hold
Total
household
Size of ger by percentage
≤ 5 khana
5
khana
6
khana
6 ≤
8,974
43.7
55.3
0.8
0.1
1-2
2,662
56.3
43.0
0.6
0.2
3-4
4,180
39.9
59.4
0.9
0.1
5-6
1,878
36.2
62.8
0.9
0.1
7+
254
34.6
63.4
2.0
0.0
Average ger size
(how many khanas)
5%
74%
21%
4 khanas
5 khanas
6 khanas
more than 6 khanas
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National Institute of Technology, Miyakonojo College Research Book, 2016
There are mostly unpaved narrow streets with disordered
networks, cul-de-sacs, and broken earth holes in ger area.
Both of the car and pedestrians use this street space.
"
Fig. 5. Typical street in ger area
III.4. Public transportation
Regarding to household income, 37 % of total residents
of ger area have low-income which ranges from 100
thousand to 1 million tugriks. Due to the low rate of income
and car ownership, most of the residents use public
transport, mainly bus and micro buses, for their daily trips.
"
Fig.6. Household income rate (currency: tugrik)
However, commuters still face difficulties related to the
poor public transportation system. Another problem is poor
accessibility to the public transportation lines. People walk
much long distance to reach nearest bus stops daily.
III.5. Social services
Accor ding to the Nati onal Building Code and
Regulation, the distance of the coverage buffer zone of
social services has following specifications: 1000 meters for
hospital, healthcare centers and the basic social services,
500 - 750 meters for grocery, 500 meters for pharmacy, 500
meters for public gathering establishments [2].
III.5.1. High schools and healthcare centers
The capacity of high-schools always exceeds in ger area,
especially in suburban ger areas. According to the National
Building Code and Regulation, the radius distance of the
coverage buffer zone of high-school should be planned in
500 meters [2]. However, due to the insufficient supply of
basic social services from the municipality, more than a half
percent of total respondents which is 59 %, have answered
that there are no schools near to their home. Remaining 41
% answered that somehow there are schools near to their
home. Due to the above mentioned condition, school
children commute for a long distance daily.
"
Fig.7. Answers on the availability of high school
According to the questionnaire survey, 64 % of the total
respondents have answered that there are no hospital and
health care facilities near to their home while 36 % have
answered that there are healthcare facilities.
"
Fig.8. Availability of hospital and healthcare facility near to the
respondent’s home
III.6. Green area
Accor ding to the Nati onal Building Code and
Regulation, more than 25 % of the total area of residential
district should be planned as green area for the resident’s
recreational activities [2]. However, in a reality of
unplanned neighbourhoods like ger area, there are almost no
green area and public spaces. Just a few families plant trees
and shrubs in their fenced parcel of land (khashaa). Water
kiosks are the main spots of social networking.
"
Fig.9. Khashaa - fenced parcel of land in ger area
III.7. Housing condition
45%
2%
21%
11%
7%
6%
7%
100-200 thousand
200-300 thousand
300-400 thousand
400-500 thousand
500.0 - 1million
more than 1 million
N/A
Is there any high school near
to you home?
59%
41%
Available
Not available
Is there any hospital
near to your home?
36%
64%
Yes No
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National Institute of Technology, Miyakonojo College Research Book, 2016
In order to clarify the living condition in ger area, the
questions are designed to cover the matters such as years of
living in ger, satisfaction level, and housing preferences. As
for the questions asking the duration living in ger, 32 %
have answered 1 - 3 years, 24 % have answered 3 - 5 years,
13 % have answered 5 - 10 years, 15 % have answered 10 -
20 years, 10 % have answered 6 months to 1 year, 4 % have
answered up to 6 months, 2 % have answered more than 20
years.
"
Fig.10. Years living in ger
Although just 31 % of the residents living in ger area at
the urban fringe are satisfied for their housing condition, 89
% of the residents living near to the city center are satisfied
for their housing condition.
"
Fig.11. Satisfaction level for the ger area environment (answer from the
residents living near to the center)
"
Fig.12. Satisfaction level for the ger area environment (answer from
the residents living at the urban fringe)
Moreover, 33 % of the respondents have answered that
they prefer to live in low storey cheap houses, 29 % of
respondents prefer apartments, 22 % of respondents prefer
improved ger, 17 % of the respondents prefer comfortable
private house, and 2 % of respondents prefer other types of
housing. No respondent has answered that they prefer rental
apartments.
"
Fig.13. Preferred housing types
CONCLUSION
Based on the analysis and findings of this survey
conducted in the central and urban fringe ger settlements of
Ulaanbaatar city, following findings and recommendations
are defined:
•More than 60 % of the total household of Ulaanbaatar
city is living in ger areas. 21.8 % of the total households
that are living in ger area are still living in ger dwellings.
These basic statistics suggest that the nomadic lifestyle is
still being shifted gradually into the sedentary life.
•As for the ger floor area which is one of the main factors
of housing condition, most of the households, 3 - 4 size
households, are living in ger with small 5 khanas which
is considered as the relatively appropriate size of floor
area. The average floor area of the gers with small 5
khanas is 19.3 m2.
•Land parcels are organized with the consideration of
spatial pattern, housing density, land price, and land
regulations. Most of the residents have already owned
the land for their ger plots.
•There are shortage of mixed land-use areas with social,
cultural, commercial and recreational facilities in ger
areas especially at the urban fringes.
•The harmful results of the human activities (latrine,
waste water disposal, smoke, and solid waste, etc.) have
negative effect on the adequate living environment.
•Because of the resident’s low income rate, the ger area
residents prefer low storey cheap housing types instead
of expensive apartments. Also, some of the residents
prefer living in improved ger dwelling with the
traditional lifestyle.
Vocabulary:
Ger – tent like traditional dwelling with wooden structure
and felt covers
Khana – Wooden structure which also defines the modular
size of ger
Tugrik (₮) – Mongolian currency (1 USD – 1,780 ₮ in 2012)
REFERENCES
[1] Maidar, D. Architecture and Urban planning of
Mongolia. Ulaanbaatar, 1972.
[2] “BNbD 30-01-04”, Urban planning code of Mongolia,
2004
2%
15%
13%
24%
32%
10%
3%
up to 6 months
6 months to 1year
1-3 years
3-5 years
5-10 years
10-20years
more than 20years
11%
89%
Satisfying
Not satisfying
69%
31%
Satisfying
Not satisfying
2%
17%
27%
32%
22%
will improve their ger
construct a house by themselves
will move to apartment
will construct affordable house
prefer public housing
other
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National Institute of Technology, Miyakonojo College Research Book, 2016
[3] Land Ownership Law of Mongolia, 2002
[4] The statistical book of the population and housing in
2010. National Statistical Bureau of Mongolia, 2011
[5] The study on population and economics of Ulaanbaatar
city. Ulaanbaatar City Statistical Office, 2012
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