Paper Cooling Technique in Hot and Dry Region
Climatic design is one of the most important factors in the traditional architecture of hot and dry region in Iran. In order to achieve thermal comfort Persian masters invented methods and elements which brought amenities to the occupants, without new modern technologies.
They only relied on the natural source of energy to ventilate and cooling houses. System and equipment by which wind is used for ventilation were, therefore, considered as ways and means of providing comfort and easy life in buildings.
Elements such as Badgeer or wind catcher in vernacular architectural is designed as well as elements such as ice pits (Yakhchal) and water reservoir(Ab Anbar); where they are very popular in Iranian old cities planning. These elements produce cooling and ventilation in urban and architectural spaces and also provided thermal comfort. (F. Soflaee) ’Badgeer’ or wind catcher is one of the methods to gain thermal comfort through providing ventilation and proper humidity into a space.
It can be considered as the modern air conditioners with less waste, pollution and energy consumption. .” A wind-catcher is a device with real/noble form and constant structure in Iran architecture, it leads the suitable wind through the inner part of the building and it is the most effective function in making comfort.” (A. A’zami, 2005) Also wind catcher is capable to response to environmental problems from a long period in this region.
This paper attempts to introduce ‘Badgeer’ as a traditional method to provide and thus thermal comfort in Iran and concentrates on one of the natural cooling technique in Iranian traditional architecture of hot-arid regions. The discussion will focus on its function and construction.
Source : The International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities 2008 (ICoSSH’08)
