NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Badgir

Qajari era architecture of Hormozgan province. The sea facing four windcatchers create natural cool ventilation inside the house during the hot days of summer.

Borujerdi ha House, Kashan, Iran. Built in 1857. An excellent example of desert architecture. Notice the two tall windcatchers.

A windcatcher, Badgir or (بادگیر) in Persian, is a traditional Persian architectural device used for many centuries to create natural ventilation in buildings. The Qajar dynasty was the ruling family of Persia from 1796 to 1925. ... External links Official website of Hormozgan Governorship Categories: Iran geography stubs | Provinces of Iran ... Borujerdi ha House, built 1857. ... Borujerdi ha House, built 1857. ... Tabatabaei House, early 1800s , Iran. ...

It is not known who first invented the windcatcher, but it still can be seen in many countries today.

Windcatchers come in various designs, such as the uni-directional, bi-directional, and multi-directional.

It is believed that the windcatcher functions based on the difference of height between base and tip. The difference creates a slight pressure gradient between the base and tip of the windcatcher's internal column whenever a breeze or wind passes through the tip of the windcatcher (that is not felt at the base). The pressure gradient then helps lift rising warmer air leaving the cooler air behind at the base. The accumulating effect over a 24 hour period is quite noticeable.

When coupled with thick adobe that exhibits high heat transmission resistance qualities, the windcatcher is able to chill lower level spaces in mosques and houses in the middle of the day to frigid temperatures.

So effective has been the windcatcher in Persian architecture that it has been routinely used as a refrigerating device for ages. Many traditional water reservoirs are built with windcatchers that are capable of storing water at near freezing temperatures for months in summer. The Baháí House of Worship by Fariborz Sahba, also known as the Lotus Temple. ...

External links

Yazd, the city of windcatchers. (http://www.ibchamber.org/Magazine%208/yazd.htm)
A windcatcher in Kerman, Iran (http://www.kkhec.ac.ir/Iran%20information/wind_catcher_mahan_kerman_iran.htm)

Results from FactBites:

Windcatcher - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (1006 words)
	A windcatcher (Badgir; بادگیر) is a traditional Persian architectural device used for many centuries to create natural ventilation in buildings.
	This is especially visible in ab anbars that use windcatchers.
	A small windcatcher (badgir) is called a "shish-khan" in traditional Persian architecture.

The vanishing mangh -DAWN Magazine; April 25, 2004 (1087 words)
	Irans wind-catchers, badgir in Persian, are said to be among the oldest in the world.
	Some of the badgirs used to have a small fountain at the basement through which the hot air cooled down and spread throughout the living rooms.
	The Iranian badgirs were usually a meter or two above the roof level and open from all the four sides ensuring air all year long.

More results at FactBites »

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