windbuilt

Windbuilt is a term used in architecture and engineering to describe designs that actively engage wind as a functional element. It encompasses approaches that optimize ventilation, reduce wind loads, and incorporate wind energy harvesting.

The concept arose with advances in sustainable design and fluid-dynamics modeling. While not a formal standard, windbuilt ideas influence passive cooling strategies, the shaping of tall buildings to minimize vortex shedding, and the integration of small turbines in façades and roofs.

Core design principles include aligning form with prevailing winds to reduce pressure differences and turbulence, using wind towers or ducts to channel air, and integrating building-scale turbines in façades or rooftops. Materials and surface textures can steer flow and encourage desired ventilation patterns, often in combination with natural ventilation strategies.

Applications include urban design, hot and arid climates, and temporary pavilions where energy use is constrained. Windbuilt strategies can improve indoor air quality and reduce cooling loads, especially where mechanical systems are limited or costly.

Limitations include wind variability, noise, maintenance, and cost. Performance is site-specific, and outcomes vary with conditions. Research uses computational fluid dynamics and wind-tunnel testing to predict performance and guide design.