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One of the Iranian masterpieces architectural

Windcatcher

One of the Iranian masterpieces architectural in the desert areas is the Windcatcher. This invention of Iranian architects has a very simple appearance but is very complex and technical. This architectural technique caused an easier life for the desert-inhabited areas. The Windcatcher is one of the magnificent symbols of Iranian civilization. Today, these Wind catchers have become a symbol of the tourists' interest to visit them.

The Windcatcher is one of the magnificent symbols of Iranian civilization

The windcatcher is an Iranian innovative method for creating a cool atmosphere inside hot desert houses. This air conditioner system has caused to make and tolerate a better living space for people. Central Iran has a large daily temperature variation with an arid climate. Most buildings are constructed with thick ceramic and Its performance is like insulation. The desert towns are made very close together with tall walls and ceilings that make the maximum shade on the ground. The windcatcher's effectiveness had led to its routine use as a refrigerating device in Persian architecture.
Many traditional water reservoirs (Ab Anbars) are built with windcatcher techniques that are capable of storing water very cool during the summer or warm months. The effect of water evaporation is more evident in desert areas, leading to the ubiquitous use of windcatchers in drier areas such as Yazd, Kerman, Kashan, Sirjan, Nain, and Bam.

one of the best historical  houses in Iran

windcatchers are usually small polygons or regular polygons. The windcatcher is made up of a tall tower that is located on the roof or the tallest section of the house.
Generally, windcatchers were built on a part of a desert house called "Hoz Khane".The Hoz Khane was a kind of Iranian room, which usually had a small tank of water. Due to the existence of a water pool, the temperature of these rooms was lower than the others. Wind catchers were usually built above these atoms because they were used by residents in the summer.

The windcatchers are generally made of brick and mud and to secure them against the wind, wooden beams were used. Also, the exterior faces were decorated with Plaster and brick. Their operation is like a cooler. The wind enters the room through the vents. After the collision with the water, evaporation is carried out. The temperature difference in these rooms is usually between 5 to 8 degrees lower than the others.

The windcatchers can change the temperature of houses with 2 methods:

1- Moving the fresh air inside the home
2- Transfering the wind toward the pool"Hoz Khane".

Over the years, the local architects have used different methods to increase the efficiency of Windcatcher.

The Windcatcher  map shows how it work

Different types of  the windcatchers

The wind catchers have different faces.
1- One side: They are the simplest type and are usually made up of cool seasonal winds.
2- Two-sided: They have tall windows on each side.
3- Triple: In this model, the different seasonal winds can be used.
4- Four sides: Four-way windcatchers are made more complete and detailed than the other types.
5- Polygon: This model absorbs all seasonal and unseasonal winds.

Decorations
The most important outer cover of the windcatcher is plaster of clay and straw. The wind catchers are covered in hot and humid seasons with plaster and mortar.
This type of covering protects it against moisture.
Most wind catchers are simple without any decorations.
Some of the wind catchers are decorated with a variety of architectural elements such as plasterworks, Brickworks, decorative arches
 , and in some cases very special windcatcher(Dowlatabad wind catcher 33 meters high and
Abarkoo windcatcher at 3 floors).

The world's tallest wind catcher

 The world's tallest wind catcher

The Dowlat Abad Garden in Yazd has the tallest windcatcher in Iran. The Dolatabad Garden of Yazd was established in the late Afshar period and in 1160 AH.
This historic garden with an area of 70,000 square meters has a historic Qanat from 200 years ago.

The most beautiful Iran windcatcher

"Aghazadeh Abarkuh" Mansion is one of the attractions of Abarkouh city in Yazd province.  This old house has the largest windcatcher in Iran and the world. This house belongs to the Qajar dynasty. The height of the windcatcher is 18 meters. This windcatcher is one of the most famous monuments of Iran, whose photo is printed on Iranian money.

The most beautiful Iran wind catcher "Aghazadeh Abarkuh" Mansion