Abstract Wind approaching a building provided with openings on the windward and leeward sides has a choice, either it flows through the openings or flows around and above the building. This choice gives rise to a dominant stream tube containing the fluid flowing through the openings. In this paper the stream tube is analysed based on wind tunnel measurements and CFD simulation. A house model with dimensions 120 mm (Width)×120 mm (Height)×180 mm (Length) was provided with rectangular openings of equal size located opposite each other. The end walls were thin giving rise to a sharp edged opening. The size of the openings expressed as the porosity (opening area divided by the façade area) was 1.3 %, 5.2 %, 11.6 %, 20.7 % and 46.5 %. In the wind tunnel, velocity including velocity fluctuations and pressure were measured along the centre line through the openings. In the CFD prediction it was possible to visualize the stream tube by the method of “flying particles”. This made it possible to explore the change in shape of the stream tube and to calculate the cross-sections of the stream tube at different positions and to know the total pressure distribution within the stream tube cross section. Finally, the discharge coefficient based on stream tube analysis was compared to that from a conventional chamber method.