A windcatcher (Persian: بادگیر‎ bâdgir: bâd "wind" + gir "catcher", Arabic: ملقف ‎malqaf [1][2]) is a traditional Persian architectural element to create natural ventilation in buildings.[3] Windcatchers come in various designs: uni-directional, bi-directional, and multi-directional. Windcatchers remain present in many countries and can be found in traditional Persian-influenced architecture throughout the Middle East.