2.2.11. House of Al-Sinnar¯ ¯ı (1794)

At the House of Al-Sinnar¯ ¯ı, a large wooden canopy facing north constitutes the roof of the small *Iwan* south of the main *qa'a* (Figure 17). The northern and western openings are provided with frames with glazed windows. The *qa'a* has an unusual layout with the artificial separation established between this southern *Iwan* and the *durqa'a* using a high grille with a *Mashrabiya* (decorative projective windows prominent in Islamic architecture). This grille allows air to circulate from the windcatcher, through the *Iwan*, toward the dome on an openwork drum of the *durqa'a*. Dominated by the *malqaf*, this small *Iwan* appears as an independent room, which also acts as an antechamber [19].

**Figure 17.** (**a**) An inside view of the windcatcher in the House of Al-Sinnar¯ ¯ı. (**b**) An outside view of the windcatcher, the arrow signifies the air flow to the windcatcher (modified by the authors; based on [17]).

2.2.12. The Palace of Al-Jawhara in the Citadel (1814–1829)

All that seems to be left of Muhammad Ali's Palace's ventilation system is the single windcatcher shown in Figure 18 [12]. The awning of the windcatcher is on the ceiling of the central room, which connects to the peripheral rooms as well as the access staircase and the two sanitary and service blocks [19].

**Figure 18.** (**a**) Plan for the Palace of al-Jawhara showing the location of the windcatcher (modified by the authors based on; [19]). (**b**) The northeastern elevation of the windcatcher, the arrows signify the air flow to the windcatcher (modified by the authors based on [19]).

#### *2.3. Modern Era in Egypt: Hassan Fathy's Designs, AUC Towers, and Sixth of October Villas*

Hassan Fathy and Ramsis Wissa Wassef were the most broadly known pioneer architects who revived vernacular architecture that used domes, vaults, and windcatchers. Hassan Fathy used the windcatchers in residential and public buildings such as the primary school for girls in El Gourna Village, where all the classes have an adjacent windcatcher facing north, from which the wind flows in and exits from another opening above the room. Placed inside the windcatcher of El Gourna is a sloped metal tray filled with wetted charcoal over which the air flows to cool the building. This object is similar to the *salsabil* that was used in the *Iwans* and halls of old Arab homes. Consequently, the windcatcher used in Gourna reduced the classroom's temperature by 10 degrees [15].
