Qualities of balconies: oppertunities of extension and design charactheristics

Abstract

Urbanization has embossed the past few centuries and will likely continue to do so. An increased population within the cities and a focus on exploitations within architecture will lead to a more densified urban environment. Therefore, outdoor spaces will play an increasingly important role in providing access to nature. If a balcony exists, it is the most accessible outdoor space in a residential building. According to housing surveys, the balcony has become one of the most important attributes of the apartments. However, many apartments lack a balcony, and if there is one, the quality varies. This thesis aims to investigate and highlight design characteristics of balconies to provide an accessible outdoor space for residents with the possibility of privacy. Furthermore, this thesis will investigate opportunities to transform existing building into dwellings with focus on balconies and how to create generous balconies through design. The purpose is to enhance the quality of apartments in the urban environment by strengthening the relationship between in- and outdoor spaces and to create usable balconies which become a natural part of the apartments meanwhile enrich the exterior. The process has mainly focused on research for and through design. By collecting knowledge from scientific- and built references, essential design characteristics were analysed. Research through design was mainly conducted through 3d model making and sketching. The result from this thesis indicates different qualities of balconies, showcasing the learning outcome in proposals of two sites with substantially different preconditions. The architecture and the urban space can improve by adding balconies and enhancing the qualities of apartments. In conclusion, addition of balconies can be a great solution for providing possibilities for private outdoor spaces whilst strengthening the relation between in- and outdoor space. It is of great importance to understand the site for the transformation to cautious take the existing building into consideration.