The seat beside the driveway

Do not let one good July afternoon approve a permanent object.

This is the annual vote. The same proposed screen, awning, pergola, move or planting change is held fixed while the engine re-runs the property in winter, spring, summer and autumn.

The hour is intentionally held constant. This isolates seasonal geometry instead of letting a different clock time flatter the proposal.

The year, in one line

Everything below is about a change. Before that, it is worth knowing what the place already does — the hours it is open, month by month, on one page you can put on a fridge.

Before a permanent change gets to win

Make January, April, July and October vote on it.

These are the exact same proposed objects re-run through the engine in four seasons. A summer fix that steals winter sun cannot hide inside one July score.

Same geometry · four seasons
ChangeJanAprJulOctAverageYear verdict
A drawable outdoor curtain
It helps in every sampled season; the weakest gain is +5.
+31
69100
+69
2190
+5
3338
+74
26100
+45robust
Face the seating east
It helps in every sampled season; the weakest gain is +5.
+31
69100
+17
2138
+5
3338
+49
2675
+26robust
A 6.9 ft panel to the west
It earns its keep in 3 seasons and is roughly neutral in the rest.
+31
69100
+72
2193
+0
3333
+74
26100
+44seasonal
A 13.8 ft umbrella
It earns its keep in 2 seasons and is roughly neutral in the rest.
+0
6969
+79
21100
+5
3338
+3
2629
+22seasonal
A 11.5 ft awning
It earns its keep in 2 seasons and is roughly neutral in the rest.
+0
6969
+79
21100
+5
3338
+2
2628
+22seasonal
A deciduous tree 16.4 ft west of the seat
It earns its keep in 2 seasons and is roughly neutral in the rest.
+0
6969
+6
2127
+5
3338
+0
2626
+3seasonal
What changes by season
A drawable outdoor curtain

January: tight 69works 100; no controlling failure remains; direct-sun reading -88.

April: no 21works 90; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading -88.

July: no 33no 38; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading -88.

October: no 26works 100; no controlling failure remains; direct-sun reading -88.

Face the seating east

January: tight 69works 100; no controlling failure remains; direct-sun reading +0.

April: no 21no 38; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

July: no 33no 38; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

October: no 26tight 75; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

A 6.9 ft panel to the west

January: tight 69works 100; no controlling failure remains; direct-sun reading -92.

April: no 21works 93; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading -92.

July: no 33no 33; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

October: no 26works 100; no controlling failure remains; direct-sun reading -92.

A 13.8 ft umbrella

January: tight 69tight 69; after the change the controlling issue is glare; direct-sun reading +0.

April: no 21works 100; no controlling failure remains; direct-sun reading -93.

July: no 33no 38; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading -93.

October: no 26no 29; after the change the controlling issue is glare; direct-sun reading +0.

A 11.5 ft awning

January: tight 69tight 69; after the change the controlling issue is glare; direct-sun reading +0.

April: no 21works 100; no controlling failure remains; direct-sun reading -95.

July: no 33no 38; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading -95.

October: no 26no 28; after the change the controlling issue is glare; direct-sun reading +0.

A deciduous tree 16.4 ft west of the seat

January: tight 69tight 69; after the change the controlling issue is glare; direct-sun reading +0.

April: no 21no 27; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading -17.

July: no 33no 38; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading -74.

October: no 26no 26; after the change the controlling issue is glare; direct-sun reading +0.

Annual shortlist

6 exact proposals re-tested

A drawable outdoor curtain

robust

It helps in every sampled season; the weakest gain is +5.

Best seasonal delta +74; worst +5; four-season average +45.

Face the seating east

robust

It helps in every sampled season; the weakest gain is +5.

Best seasonal delta +49; worst +5; four-season average +26.

A 6.9 ft panel to the west

seasonal

It earns its keep in 3 seasons and is roughly neutral in the rest.

Best seasonal delta +74; worst +0; four-season average +44.

A 13.8 ft umbrella

seasonal

It earns its keep in 2 seasons and is roughly neutral in the rest.

Best seasonal delta +79; worst +0; four-season average +22.

A 11.5 ft awning

seasonal

It earns its keep in 2 seasons and is roughly neutral in the rest.

Best seasonal delta +79; worst +0; four-season average +22.

A deciduous tree 16.4 ft west of the seat

seasonal

It earns its keep in 2 seasons and is roughly neutral in the rest.

Best seasonal delta +6; worst +0; four-season average +3.