ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Al-Mashrabiya Building

Al-mashrabiya is a special kind of building that originated long ago in Arab countries. It is often made of wood and has a special design that has tiny holes or openings in the walls. These holes help cool the inside of the building by letting air circulate through it.

Imagine you are inside a hot room with no windows or doors. It feels very stuffy and uncomfortable, right? But if you had a small hole in the wall, a tiny bit of fresh air would be able to come in and make the room feel much better. That's exactly what al-mashrabiya does, but on a larger scale.

The holes in the walls of al-mashrabiya also serve another important purpose: privacy. Because the holes are so small, people can't see inside the building from the outside, but those inside can see out. This means people can look out and see what's going on without feeling like they are being watched.

Al-mashrabiya buildings are still used today in many parts of the world, and their unique design is considered a beautiful and important part of architecture.