Even as we describe such ‘seasons’, these temporal patterns do not account for the distinctive microclimates in the city’s hilly topography. Local weather patterns can catch even experienced San Franciscans by surprise. The city’s western neighbourhoods tend to get the worst of the fog: it rarely creeps over the higher hills that roughly bisect the city, leaving most of the eastern neighbourhoods well protected and often quite balmy. Even within this basic division, there are nuances in each neighbourhood resulting from topography, street patters and proximity to the water. This is part of the charm of the city: one can travel less than a mile to escape a cold, damp day in the Sunset to enjoy a warm sunny afternoon in the Mission. But even the Mission can be inundated by a late afternoon fog that suddenly pours over the hilltops like foam on a raging river — it doesn’t take too many times of getting caught before some basic adaptations become ingrained. We learn to always wear layers, no matter how sunny the day is. We bring flip-flops and jackets to the beach, sunglasses and sweaters to the ballgame, and always have an indoor refuge when planning a picnic. Just as we have adapted our behaviour and clothing to changeable weather, we have shaped our physical environment to respond to this erratic climate. Buildings, the highest expression of this adaptation, are first and foremost a response to keeping the weather out ; they are shelter and refuge. However, if we are interested in weather and our attitudes to being out in it, we can also look at how we have adapted our public spaces to our desire to be outdoors among our fellow citizens, even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. A casual study of the adaptations made to the weather on the streets and public places of San Francisco reveals a range of tactics, from small scale and provisional adaptations to larger, more permanent solutions. 2 They break down in to three basic strategies: good sites, architectural solutions, and technology. good sites The best sites, with good sun access and wind protection, are naturals for outdoor gatherings. Such sites generally face south with some sort of physical barrier on the west side and are both coveted and surprisingly rare. From the sidewalk café that sits on the north side of the street to the park that is nestled into the eastern slope of a hill, or the narrow north- south oriented pedestrian alley, such sites are highly successful and remarkably popular. architectural solutions If a public space doesn’t have natural advantages, there is a wide range of physical improvements that can be made, from the most crude and provisional to the elaborate and permanent. While little can be done if there isn’t a minimal amount of solar access, there are plenty of solutions for dealing with the wind.
Just a couple of wind screens can make this well-oriented space quite comfortable at Mondo Café. Revolution Café’s southern orientation, transitional patio space, heat lamps and warm Mission District locale keep it packed almost year- round. Dolores Park’s natural bowl shape protects it from the western winds and creates a natural amphitheatre that is incredibly popular on sunny days.
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