Novelty Hill Winery

Microclimate analysis informs the design of outdoor spaces. By understanding seasonal wind and solar shading patterns these spaces can be made comfortable for the greatest possible portion of the year. This type of analysis can also be used to recommend building cross-ventilation paths for predominant wind directions.

Outdoor comfort was an explicit design criteria for the Novelty Hill – Januik Winery in Woodinville, Washington. Outdoor activities such as wine-tasting and weddings were a key aspect of the program, so the architects at Mithun asked ESBL to analyze the schematic design and make recommendations to maximize the times when these spaces could be comfortable.

This example page from our report combines wind and sun studies. There are 3 plots – for 9:00 am, noon, and 3 pm. The shades of blue indicate relative wind velocities around the building for the predominant spring-time wind direction; these are the same for each of the 3 plots. What changes are the shadows from the building and vegetation. Taken together, the wind and sun patterns suggest places that might be thermally attractive for outdoor use at different times of the year.

Check out the Mithun Novelty Hill Winery Page here.