Corrugated cardboard wind tower in Dubai
News News blog
The skyline of Dubai's oldest neighbourhood, Al Bastakiya, is dotted with chimney-like, square structures with openings that protrude from the roofs of the buildings: they are the forerunners of air conditioning systems - wind towers.
Wind towers, which are based on the concept of air pressure difference, have separate openings on all four sides, a roof and a wind shaft through which the hot air can escape from the vents, while the cooler air is collected and channelled into the interior. Wet fabric walls are hung from bamboo poles around the openings to cool the incoming air.
As well as being an attractive architectural feature, wind towers are also excellent sustainable, energy-efficient ventilation systems - especially when compared to air conditioning systems, which can release hydrofluorocarbons and increase energy consumption. Studies have shown that wind towers can reduce the internal temperature of houses by around 10 degrees Celsius compared to the temperature outside.
A wind tower installation called "Barjeel" (wind tower) in Dubai's design district was designed by MAS Architecture Studio for Dubai Design Week 2019. It is a reinterpretation of a traditional wind tower made from 480 layers of recycled cardboard. This wind tower with a circular base and an 18-foot-high square body inside provides seating for visitors to relax. It works on exactly the same principles as the historic wind towers.
