Balcony

A balcony is a small but valuable piece of outdoor space that ties an interior to the world outside. It is reached through a door from a room or living area, and its edges are made safe with a railing. Structurally it can cantilever out from the facade, sit recessed within the building line, or be carried on columns.

Types of balcony

The cantilevered balcony, formed by extending the floor slab outward, is the most common. A recessed balcony, sometimes called a loggia, is cut back into the facade; it feels more sheltered and is shaded by the floor above. A Juliet balcony has almost no depth at all and is simply a railing in front of a full-height door. Enclosing balconies with glazing is common in Turkey, and it affects both the facade and the zoning calculations, which depend on plan notes and regulations.

Design points

• Poor waterproofing and falls make balconies the most frequent source of leaks into the rooms below.
• Cantilevered slabs form thermal bridges, so the insulation line needs to be continuous.
• Railing height and a design that children cannot climb are essential for safety.

Balconies set the rhythm of a facade. In 3D exterior facade designs the railing material, the depth of the shadows and a few plants or chairs on the balconies are what turn a building into a place people live in.