“The layout and openings allow ample flow to the exterior, and paths and decks have been developed to ‘flatten’ the sloping site enough to create generous outdoor gathering areas,” Herrin says. “These areas take into account sunlight at different times of day as well as protection from prevailing wind,” he adds. One-by-six-foot ipe planks comprise the decking, and hemlock end grain by the Oregon Lumber Company was installed indoors.

On the hill behind the house, a wind-powered well brings water from a 150-foot-deep hole to the surface. That water then flows to the home as needed with gravity's helping hand.

The most unique feature of the Lighthouse is the windcatcher, or the vertical void that cuts down through the center of the house from the roof.

Visions of the Dutch landscape are speckled with wind mills. There, wind turbines are also called wind mills, and at House 2.0, the Weijnen's mill produces one-third of the house’s annual electricity.

Continue through the museum's hallways, where you will be greeted by a hypnotic gateway made up of 5000 paper windmills. The installation is the work of Lebanese designer Najla El Zein, who named the piece 'The And Portal' - a playful airway that draws wind and light into the galleries beyond.

The 1.7-mile-wide tornado hung over Greensburg for eight minutes and destroyed nearly all of the 1.5-square-mile town.

The Ateenan Aamu Glass Pendants were designed by Kaj Franck in 1953 and were relaunched by Iittala in 2011 in honor of the 100th anniversary of Franck’s birth. This set of three pendants is light and delicate, and can be used as an interior decoration near a window to create a subtle reflection of light. When moved by a light breeze, the bubbles within each pendant create a soft, enchanting sound. Although each pendant appears similar, Franck designed the bubbles to rest in different places, creating a subtle variance reminiscent of the organic nature of dewdrops on a leaf or rain collected against a windowpane.

What happens to the human face in gale force winds.

A small deck off the back of the main house is protected from the wind and supported by a small grassy mound.

Designer Araya Jensen hand-dips each hand-carved wooden bowl in neon synthetic rubber, so no two bowls are exactly alike. The cheerful result is a tactile, unique piece. We recommend collecting various sizes and displaying them stacked together as shown or as fruit bowls.

Wind turbines cover the landscape just north of Palm Springs.

Ateenan Aamu Glass Wind Chimes by Kaj Franck for Iittala Finnish for “Morning in Athens,” these delicate, mouth-blown pendants create a soft, enchanting sound when they strike one another.

The Montezuma Hills of Solano Country in Northern California are home to wind farms.

The COR condo tower in Miami features a score of circular wind turbines.

At the rear of the house is a minimalist spiral staircase that winds up all four floors.

A skylight at the top of the staircase, which winds around a carambola tree, floods the interior with sunlight.

This eco-friendly escape is powered by solar panels and a wind turbine—and it even includes a full bath.

Blocked from the wind, a deck at the rear of the house is a favorite place for sunbathing and also shelters planters of herbs.

A pathway winds between a pair of Japanese maples and a myrtle tree that dates to the home’s original construction. The floor-to-ceiling windows and sliders are by Fleetwood.

The living room resembles a large eye with a curved window and an eyelash-like eave that protects against dust, wind, sun, and rain.

Here's another slide that describes the work of the Baudgeer or wind scoop in a passive ventilation system.

The three buildings are strategically organized around a central courtyard, creating an outdoor room that is protected from sun, precipitation, and wind. The openings between the buildings frame the predominant views.

The small cabin's cross-laminated timber (CLT) shell, composed of 72 unique wooden panels, is designed to withstand severe arctic storms and heavy wind conditions.

The main level living space of Industrial Farmhouse by Christopher Simmond Architect Inc. is a transparent social hub for viewing the rural landscape. The house is situated to optimize views, as well as protect occupants from the blazing summer sun and stiff winter winds.

Built of durable and easy-to-clean composite materials, Pallet Shelter’s aluminum-framed prefab homes are fitted with insulation and rated for 110 mile-per-hour winds and 25 pound-per-square-foot snow loads.

For the Butterfly cabin, which is part of the Post Ranch Inn, Muennig chose materials that age gracefully when exposed to the elements. He regularly uses Cor-Ten steel, a group of steel alloys that form a stable rust-like appearance when battered by wind and rain.

“There is a lot of glass so you can enjoy the view and the outdoor lifestyle even inside,” Henrik explains. “You live in the middle of the weather somehow. It’s a really harsh environment, as you have these southwesterly winds blowing through the house. But it is really beautiful as well.”

Sattler-Smith explains that “the north side of the house is covered with corrugated galvanized steel and pierced with only a few very small windows; this protects from the 100-mile-per-hour north winds.”

Treehouses Earth & Wind in the background

Like the other buildings onsite, John Hix designed Casa Solaris to take advantage of the natural forces here in Vieques; wind, sun and rain. By creating open spaces, where basically the fourth wall is missing, John created a space that takes advantage of the trade winds that flow through the Vieques hills. By placing the open wall towards the trade winds (to the East), the room is constantly cooled, leaving no need for air conditioning. Photo by Michael Grimm.

"The placement of the cabin was carefully chosen according to wind and snowfall in the area,

Perforated metal walls protect the patio from the area’s intense winds.

Fires can be built on either the north or south side of the rock, depending on prevailing winds.

Master bathroom with backlit pop out wind boxes.

The pines to the west of the home provide protection from the wind.