Hogan Construction Methods

There are two main types of traditional hogans, depending on how they are made.

The Female Hogan is usually six-sided. It is built from logs or stone. The roof may be insulated with earth or mud. The Male Hogan or Forked Stick Hogan is not meant to be lived in. It is smaller and covered in wood, brush and mud.

There are a lot of variations in modern hogan homes.

This hogan is at the Native American Bahá’í Institute, in Houck, Arizona. It looks round, but they say it has nine sides.

If you want to build a traditional hogan, most have six or eight walls.

The roof is “cribbed.” Logs are arranged in smaller and smaller circles to support brush and packed dirt or mud to create a dry, insulated roof.

This is what the roof looks like from the inside in this large hogan.

This is a traditional winter hogan. Earth or mud adds insulation and waterproofing.

Any materials available can be turned into a hogan.

If you are building a hogan, you can start with plans: Modern Hogan Log Kits and Plans

This is a recreation of a traditional log hogan.

Traditionally the logs would be covered with mud to “chink” or insulate the hogan.

Cone shaped Male Hogans start with forked sticks.  Three forked poles are raised upright and leaned toward the center until their forks lock together. Then they are reinforced with earth.