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Traditional Windcatcher, Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Dubai, UAE
A windcatcher is a traditional architectural element used to create cross ventilation and passive cooling in buildings. Windcatchers come in various designs, depending on whether local prevailing winds are unidirectional, bidirectional, or multidirectional, on how they change with altitude, on the daily temperature cycle, and on humidity. Four-directional windcatchers can be seen all around Dubai (In Arabic they are called Barjeel). They often have wooden sticks protruding from their sides, used to mount cloth and more effectively redirect airflow. Even when there is no wind, the towers function as solar chimneys, allowing hot air to escape upwards.