The balcony that is only good before nine

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 deciduous tree 16.4 ft west of the seat
It earns its keep in 3 seasons and is roughly neutral in the rest.
+0
4141
+16
84100
+5
3641
+6
94100
+7seasonal
Move the table 6.6 ft east
The same built change does not produce a dependable improvement across the year.
+0
4141
+0
8484
+0
3636
+0
9494
+0weak
A second seat 19.7 ft east
The same built change does not produce a dependable improvement across the year.
+0
4141
+0
8484
+0
3636
+0
9494
+0weak
Sit under The balcony above
The same built change does not produce a dependable improvement across the year.
+0
4141
+0
8484
+0
3636
+0
9494
+0weak
Two 8.2 ft parasols instead of one
The same built change does not produce a dependable improvement across the year.
+0
4141
+0
8484
+0
3636
+0
9494
+0weak
A 9.8 ft umbrella
The same built change does not produce a dependable improvement across the year.
+0
4141
+0
8484
+0
3636
+0
9494
+0weak
What changes by season
A deciduous tree 16.4 ft west of the seat

January: no 41no 41; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

April: works 84works 100; no controlling failure remains; direct-sun reading +0.

July: no 36no 41; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

October: works 94works 100; no controlling failure remains; direct-sun reading +0.

Move the table 6.6 ft east

January: no 41no 41; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

April: works 84works 84; after the change the controlling issue is wind; direct-sun reading +0.

July: no 36no 36; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

October: works 94works 94; after the change the controlling issue is wind; direct-sun reading +0.

A second seat 19.7 ft east

January: no 41no 41; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

April: works 84works 84; after the change the controlling issue is wind; direct-sun reading +0.

July: no 36no 36; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

October: works 94works 94; after the change the controlling issue is wind; direct-sun reading +0.

Sit under The balcony above

January: no 41no 41; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

April: works 84works 84; after the change the controlling issue is wind; direct-sun reading +0.

July: no 36no 36; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

October: works 94works 94; after the change the controlling issue is wind; direct-sun reading +0.

Two 8.2 ft parasols instead of one

January: no 41no 41; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

April: works 84works 84; after the change the controlling issue is wind; direct-sun reading +0.

July: no 36no 36; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

October: works 94works 94; after the change the controlling issue is wind; direct-sun reading +0.

A 9.8 ft umbrella

January: no 41no 41; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

April: works 84works 84; after the change the controlling issue is wind; direct-sun reading +0.

July: no 36no 36; after the change the controlling issue is what it feels like; direct-sun reading +0.

October: works 94works 94; after the change the controlling issue is wind; direct-sun reading +0.

Annual shortlist

6 exact proposals re-tested

A deciduous tree 16.4 ft west of the seat

seasonal

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

Best seasonal delta +16; worst +0; four-season average +7.

Move the table 6.6 ft east

weak

The same built change does not produce a dependable improvement across the year.

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

A second seat 19.7 ft east

weak

The same built change does not produce a dependable improvement across the year.

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

Sit under The balcony above

weak

The same built change does not produce a dependable improvement across the year.

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

Two 8.2 ft parasols instead of one

weak

The same built change does not produce a dependable improvement across the year.

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

A 9.8 ft umbrella

weak

The same built change does not produce a dependable improvement across the year.

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