Windcatcher: A Passive Adaptive System for the New Climate

Abstract

Human life has become heavily urbanized, and cities have become more populated. Crowded cities have a greater urban metabolism, which results in hotter cities. Moreover, new, higher-density urban forms have the potential to reduce wind velocity in the streets. These fundamental changes in urban climate have been accompanied by climate change. To cope with climate change, cities need to be prepared to adapt to changes. This paper proposes borrowing environmentally sustainable adaptation strategies for a hotter future climate in order to cope with climate threats. For this purpose, the windcatcher has been suggested as a passive cooling solution to penetrate more wind into street canyons; it may also increase the air turbulence and thus reduce the temperature and increase the outflow of pollutants from neighborhood environments. The windcatcher is an Iranian traditional architectural element in arid climates to create natural ventilation for buildings and maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. In this paper we will introduce it as an urban element that not only could provide urban identity, but also could improve urban microclimates.