Evaluating the Effectiveness of Camel Hair Filters in Wind Catchers for Air Quality Improvement and Natural Ventilation Comfort in Vernacular Saudi Architecture

Wind catchers are widely used as vernacular systems for natural ventilation in hot–arid regions, yet their performance is often compromised by airborne dust. This study investigates the architectural integration of a camel hair–based filtration layer within a traditional down-draft wind catcher in a rural Saudi Arabian context, focusing on airflow behavior, indoor environmental response, and qualitative particulate interception under natural ventilation. Building on the authors’ previously published laboratory research that quantified the PM10 filtration performance of camel hair–based media under controlled conditions, the present work extends the investigation to an in situ architectural application. Field measurements of air velocity, temperature, and relative humidity were conducted during a 24 h dust event to examine system-level behavior following filter integration. PM10 capture was assessed qualitatively through visual inspection and comparative observation, serving as corroborative evidence rather than a standardized filtration metric. Results indicate that the filtration layer alters airflow characteristics without fundamentally disrupting natural ventilation. Indoor thermal conditions are interpreted within the framework of the Adaptive Thermal Comfort Model, appropriate for a free-running building, emphasizing occupant adaptation rather than fixed comfort thresholds. This study demonstrates the feasibility of integrating a biomimetically inspired, locally sourced natural material within a vernacular ventilation system, contributing architectural insights into balancing dust mitigation and natural ventilation in arid climates.