What is "windcatcher"

n. A traditional Persian architectural element for creating natural ventilation in buildings.

A windtower (wind catcher) ( bâdgir: bâd "wind" + gir "catcher") is a traditional Persian architectural element to create natural ventilation in buildings. Windcatchers come in various designs: uni-directional, bi-directional, and multi-directional. Windcatchers remain present in many countries and can be found in traditional Persian-influenced architecture throughout the Middle East, including in the small Arab states of the Persian Gulf (mostly Bahrain and Dubai), Pakistan, and Afghanistan.