Balcony
Platform projecting from the wall of a building
- 2 min read
- 3 chapters
Related on Lably
Through Column, William Shakespeare and Rome
Types
Cantilever balconies are a type of balcony where there is no visible support structure underneath, so it appears to float. Recessed balconies sit within the boundary of a building's facade, so are the least exposed type of balcony. Stacked balconies are attached to a buildings facade, whilst being supported by pillars beneath. The traditional Maltese balcony is a wooden, closed balcony projecting from a wall.
A Juliet balcony does not protrude out of the building. It is usually part of an upper floor, with a balustrade only at the front, resembling a small loggia. A modern Juliet balcony often involves a metal barrier placed in front of a high window that can be opened. Juliet balconies are named after William Shakespeare's Juliet, from Romeo and Juliet. Various types of balcony have been used in this famous scene, including the "balcony of Juliet" at Villa Capuleti in Verona which is not a Juliet balcony.
A French balcony is a false balcony, with doors that open to a railing with a view of the courtyard or the surrounding scenery below.
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Functions
Balconies provide an area of outside space. They can help to provide a building with light and ventilation. In addition to functioning as an outdoor space for a dwelling unit, balconies can also play a secondary role in building sustainability and indoor environmental quality. Balconies have been shown to provide an overhang effect that helps prevent interior overheating by reducing solar gain, and may also have benefits in terms of reducing noise. Balconies are part of the sculptural shape of the building allowing for irregular facades without the cost of irregular internal structures.
Sometimes balconies are adapted for ceremonial purposes, e.g. that of St. Peter's Basilica at Rome, when the newly elected pope gives his blessing urbi et orbi after the conclave. Balconies have been an important aspect of theatre architecture for centuries, inspired by ancient Roman and Greek civilisations, who included raised seating designs. Balconies gained prominence in the European renaissance, becoming synonymous with aristocratic and royal spectators.