An Analytical Study of Horizontal Adaptations of Vernacular Barjeel (Windcatcher) in the Desert Architecture of the Gulf Region

Abstract

The Hybrid Barjeel of the ORA House, designed for the Solar Decathlon Middle East 2018 in Dubai, is a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional windcatcher—Barjeel, integrating vernacular cooling principles with modern mechanical systems to enable passive precooling of intake air in hot, arid climates. This study aims to evaluate the thermal performance of several horizontal windcatcher configurations developed during the ORA House design process and compare them with the conventional vertical windcatcher typology. Numerical simulations were performed using Computational Fluid Dynamics to analyse airflow behaviour and thermal characteristics—factors that directly influence cooling loads and indoor air quality, and ultimately contribute to carbon savings and cost efficiency. The results show that the horizontally integrated windcatcher effectively reduces the temperature of the supply air, demonstrating its viability as a passive precooling strategy; however, the performance improvement relative to the vertical configuration is modest. Overall, the findings suggest that horizontal windcatcher designs offer an architecturally flexible alternative for contemporary residential buildings, enabling better morphological integration without compromising functional potential.