The Wind Catcher: Lessons From Traditional Arab Architecture

posted on: Feb 19, 2025

By: Ralph Hage / Arab America Contributing Writer

The wind catcher, or wind tower, is a prevalent feature in the traditional architecture of various cities in the Arab World. They are typically found in settlements situated in hot and dry or hot and humid climates. They usually take the form of large chimneys in the skyline of cities. Wind catchers are vertical shafts with vents at the uppermost part, designed to direct desired winds into interior spaces and provide thermal comfort for the space below. This architectural element is an example of how architecture can harmonize with the natural environment by conserving energy and functioning based on sustainable principles^.5

A Brief History | Defining the Wind Tower

In studying a region’s climate in depth, wind is one of the important elements to consider. This is due to wind currents that create differences in pressure on the exterior walls, which in turn affect the natural ventilation and interior air temperature of a structure. In conscious architecture, wind should be a key factor in the design of a structure.³

Wind towers appear on many structures, such as houses, mosques, and water cisterns. The wind tower consists of a tower located at one end of the living area during the summer, with another part that rises from the roof.² Inside, it is divided into multiple vertical air passages by internal partitions or shafts. The shafts terminate at the top of the tower, opening up on the sides. The airflow inside the tower moves in two directions: up and down. When the wind blows from one direction, the windward openings act as inlets, and the leeward openings function as outlets, and vice versa, depending on the direction of the breeze.

Orientation and Function of the Wind Tower

The orientation of a wind tower generally corresponds directly to the four main geographical directions: North, South, East, and West. The orientation of the openings depends on the direction from which the breeze arrives, thereby determining the desired direction. In some cases, the wind towers function as air suction devices, with the airflow turning away from the main wind source, creating a negative pressure region that allows warm air inside the house to be expelled.⁶

Humidity, Heat, and Dryness

In hot and dry regions, it is essential to increase indoor humidity to maintain comfortable living conditions. This can be achieved through evaporation. As the air passes through the wind tower, it flows over a water fountain upon entering the building, introducing humidity into various spaces within the structure.¹ In some examples, mats are placed inside the wind tower, with water poured over them to enhance the coolness and humidity of the airflow passing through.

Functionality | The Tower in Hot and Humid Temperatures

Hot and humid regions typically experience high humidity levels due to their proximity to the sea. In these areas, wind towers reduce temperature solely through airflow rather than by increasing indoor humidity, as additional moisture would make living conditions uncomfortable.

The Elements of the Wind Catcher

The wind catcher is composed of multiple elements, each essential to its overall function. The elements of a wind catcher, from bottom to top, are as follows: the chimney, the stalk, the catgut and chain, and the shelf.

1. The Chimney – This part of the wind catcher is most often in the form of an incomplete pyramid. The proportions of the upper part of the wind catcher are designed in harmony with this section. In many cases, it is as tall as a human, while in others, it can reach several meters in height.
   
2. The Stalk – The stalk is located between the room and the top part of the wind catcher. Essentially, the taller the wind catcher, the taller the stalk. The height of the wind catcher is primarily determined by the most desirable winds and the optimal height needed to capture them effectively. Aesthetically, the visual appeal of this part depends on the brickwork decoration.
   
3. The Catgut and Chain – The part that is located between the shelf and the stalk.
   
4. The Shelf – The top section of the wind catcher, which includes the blades and the channel for passing air. The most common shapes for this part are a horizontal rectangle, a vertical rectangle, and a square. Its shape is typically adjusted based on the direction of the prevailing breeze.⁷

Wind towers are typically classified by the number of directions they face to optimize wind conditions. These include one-, two-, four-, and eight-directional wind towers.

Modern Applications

In modern times, many architects have recognized the significance of the wind catcher and its advantages. Numerous projects have been designed with this concept in mind. This article examines three examples of how the wind catcher has been implemented in contemporary architecture.

Abdel-Rahman Nassif House

The first contemporary structure to examine is the Abdel-Rahman Nassif House, designed by architect Hasan Fathy in 1974. Fathy designed a wind catcher with four open sides oriented toward the prevailing winds, incorporating closed shutters similar to those used in Iran, Oman, and Iraq. The wind would flow downward, come into contact with water bowls inside the wind catcher, and then circulate into other areas of the house, cooling the interior.¹¹ The house was intended as a gift from Abdel-Rahman Nassif to his two sons, and judging by its current condition and a newly renovated pool, it appears to be well-maintained and in use. Nassif also contributed to the design by adding a shutter system that allowed for precise control over which winds entered the wind catcher at any given time.

Al-Sulaiman Palace

The next example is the Al Sulaiman Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, designed by Abdel Wahed Al Wakil in 1980. As a student of Hassan Fathy, Al Wakil’s approach to architecture shifted significantly from the Modernist style he had previously adopted. He applied Fathy’s architectural principles in his design, and at the Al Sulaiman Palace, one can see the resemblance to the wind catcher designed for the Abdel-Rahman Nassif House by Fathy a few years earlier.12 The palace is still maintained in excellent condition by its inhabitants, and its architectural and environmental significance earned it an Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1980.¹²

Qatar University

Another example is Qatar University, designed by Kamal Kafrawi in 1992. This project represents a reinterpretation of the wind catcher’s role in modern architecture. The building features numerous wind catchers elevated at different levels to optimize airflow from prevailing winds. Its simplified geometric form was designed to reflect the spirit of modernity while maintaining the wind catcher’s traditional function of directing air into the interior.¹³

The wind catchers have four open sides adorned with perforated geometric patterns, forming a defining element of the design. Despite being replicated in large numbers, each one effectively ventilates the space below it. Due to its successful integration of design and performance, the project was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1992.¹³

Lessons Learned

By examining the specifics of wind catchers and how notable contemporary designers have incorporated them into their work, we can thoughtfully apply past knowledge to create more enduring, sustainable, and intelligent architecture for today and the future.

Bibliography

1. M. Mahmoudi, “Wind Catcher Symbol of the Image City in Yazd”, Baghe Nazar Journal, Vol. 5, No. 97, pp. 45, 53-54, 2007.
2. Mahyari, “Wind Catchers”, Ph.D. Thesis, Sydney University, No. 62, 1997.
3. M. Mahmoudi, S.M. Mofidi, “Analysis on Typology and Architecture of Wind Catcher and Finding the Best Type”, Honarhaye Ziba Journal, Vol. 36, No. 8, p. 29, pp. 22-23, 2008.
4. M. Mahmoudi, “Wind Tower as a Natural Cooling System in Iranian Architecture”, Proceeding of Passive and Low Energy Cooling in Buildings Conference, Greece, pp. 11-12, 2005.
5. M.N. Bahadori, “An Improved Design of Wind Towers for Natural Ventilation and Passive Cooling”, Solar Energy, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 30, 41, 1985.
6. B. McCarthy Consulting Engineers, Ahmadinezhad (translator), “Wind Towers”, Proceeding of Passive and Low Energy Cooling in Buildings Conference, Greece, pp. 23-29, 2005.
7. S. Roaf, “Wind Catchers, Living with the Desert”, Proceeding of Passive and Low Energy Cooling in Buildings Conference, Greece, pp. 32-35, 2005.
8. B. Ahmadkhani Maleki, “Traditional Sustainable Solutions in Iranian Desert Architecture to Solve the Energy Problem”, International Journal on Technical and Physical Problems of Engineering (IJTPE), Issue 6, Vol.3, No. 1, pp. 84-91, March 2011
9. S. Roaf, The Wind Catchers of Yazd, Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Architecture, Oxford Polytechnic, 1988
10. The Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran, Iran – http://archnet.org/publications/5314
11. Hassan Fathy, Natural Energy and Vernacular Architecture: Principles and Examples with Reference to Hot Arid Climates. Chicago, 1986.
12. Al-Sulaiman Palace, Jeddah, KSA – http://archnet.org/sites/184
13. Qatar University, Doha, Qatar – http://archnet.org/sites/288

Ralph Hage, a Lebanese American architect and writer, divides his time and work between Lebanon and the United States.

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