Mongolia comes out top by the number of apartments per capita. The reason is that the ancient traditional dwelling of Mongolians or cone-shaped white felt gers play very significant role in life of the nomads with its comfortableness and portability.
Though modern Mongolians enjoy with building and living in the luxury apartment houses, the ger having been constructed many centuries ago is being used till now by them. It is the classic dwelling in term of the specific technological solution and architectural design. Nomadic people have to be flexible and mobile and gers can be moved easily. Ger is warm in the winter and cool in the summer, as well as easy for assembling. Mongolians are making their gers more modernized and comfortable.
Most Mongolians especially in rural areas still live gers, even in the suburbs of capital city of Ulaanbaatar. Gers can be really comfortable and the tourist camps in Mongolia usually have the specially furnished gers. That is why the foreign tourists and travelers are interested in visiting and staying in ger bars and hotels.
The ger consists of two basic elements such as frame wood and felt covering. Hence, Mongolians have been called as dwellers in felt walls since ancient time. A size of Mongolian ger is defined by the number of latticed-walls. At the end of the XIX century, only ordinary herders have gers of four walls. But the wealthy people live in gers with five and more walls. 8-12 latticed-walls are mostly used by the khans and other dignitaries.
According to old tradition, the internal layout of a ger has a deep meaning. For instance, the stove is in the center of the ger, which provides both heat and cooking facilities. The west from the stove is the male side, whereas the east is the female side and there are placed their belongings respectively. The back of the ger is khoimor, the place for the elders, where the most honored people are seated. On the back wall is the family altar, decorated with Buddhist images.