Wind catchers ??

babyblade41

Basically having the quotes for a barn conversion which include a wind catcher .  My question is are they necessary & what benefits do they have ??

Grandad2b

I had to google wind catcher. Suggest you do the same as only you and your architect can decide whether you really want one.

YoungBlueEyes

My first thought was "why does someone need advice on a tinkly garden ornament", but then I DuckDuck'd it and realised I was wrong so I'm not going to comment  

Eldi_Dos

Don't know if they still are but they were a common thing in traditional indoor souks in the middle east, in the peak hot months they were very effective in bringing the temperature down and did not use any energy to provide the cooling effect which was very welcome.

ThisIsWeird

If you are converting a barn (you lucky thing), then presumably it'll require insulating and ventilating to current building standards? So I can't see why this - admittedly lovely and intriguing - device would be required any more than on any other building?

If it's hot, open some windows.

Unless the wall construction doesn't allow for current levels of insulation? Is it - even with added natural (wool/wood fibre etc) insulation - going to be a breathy building that needs this?

I presume your archi specified the wind catcher? Guess who you should talk to :-)

ComicGeek

We use the Monodraught wind catchers a lot for schools, community centres, industrial units, wedding venues etc - very good way of providing large amounts of ventilation in large spaces, without the usual draughts from open windows and doors during winter time. They also are a very secure way of providing ventilation, so good at night time or when you're out during the day. Normally have a sophisticated controls set up based on internal CO2 levels, and internal and external air temperatures.

We wouldn't put them in a residential property unless you were having very large parties all the time, it's an expensive item. For a residential property you could probably replicate the 'passive stack' part with a rooflight with remote control for a fraction of the cost, but you're unlikely to need the large amount of fresh air that the unit would provide.

Apodemus

Is it really a windcatcher?  Most traditional barns would be constructed to allow cool air to enter low in the building and then ridge vents to let the moist warm air escape out of the roof.  Often these ridge vents were given a design treatment to make them look appealing or to make them seem more effective (whether they were or not is open to question).  But that would not make them windcatchers in the true sense of the term.

mi-key

YoungBlueEyes said:

My first thought was "why does someone need advice on a tinkly garden ornament", but then I DuckDuck'd it and realised I was wrong so I'm not going to comment  

I was thinking of something like dreamcatchers