Balcony

A balcony ( balkɔŋ, especially Süddt / ugs / Switzerland also bal'ko: n; plural balconies or balconies, as a collective term Balko Stevenage balkonette: .. . Nɑʃɘ ) is a platform on a building that is above ground level and extends from the building. A balcony is enclosed by a parapet or a railing. The word goes back to the Italian word balcone, this in turn to the Old High German (possibly by the Lombard language mediated ) Word balkonette, " bar".

Definition and types

Colloquially, the term is often used balcony generalization that increased, walk platforms of different types. In architecture and construction is, however, differentiated between different types of construction:

• A balcony is an elevated, open outlet on a floor, the hervorkragt from the wall. The cantilever plate can be self-supporting or supported by means of brackets or braces on the wall.
• When Altan or upper chamber, the open platform is supported by columns, piers or walls, in contrast to the balcony. Aside from the construction, the function is usually the same as that of a balcony.
• A raised outlet, the non- protruding from the wall, but remains within the cubage of the building, also referred to as a balcony. A loggia of this type usually fulfills the same function as a balcony, unless it is extended to a continuous portico.
• Is an excellent part of the building covered and surrounded by its own walls, it is called a bay window. Since balconies covered and ( in part ) can be glazed to the transitions between the two types are sometimes blurred.
• The so-called French balcony is a floor- deep windows with railing that comes forth from the facade minimal.

The listed components have the function of the increased leakage as a common feature. A partial, full or half- open area on or below the ground floor level of a house is, however, called the Terrace. Is this area covered, one speaks of a front porch.

Balkonierte facade ( here the hull of a cruise ship )

Balcony on the inside: the organ loft

Showpiece

The appearance balcony is often found to showpiece and public streets or places facing. The name refers to the fact that dignitaries appear on such a platform and can show a gathered outside the building audiences. An example of this is the benediction loggia at St Peter's, on which a newly-elected Pope to the world is presented.

Housing

Balconies are among the outdoor seating. In residential construction until the end of the 1930s balconies were built as so-called jewelry balconies to the street-side building fronts and as an economic balconies to the rear courtyard facades of the buildings. The economy balconies were usually preceded by the kitchens and is intended for home outdoor work or for drying laundry. Scale of the area was rated: minimum depth of 1.00 m = 1 chair. With the improvement of living quality in the mid- 1950s balconies were an integral part of building new buildings, have been and are increasingly also added in the renovation of old buildings.

With a balcony glazing, the area above the parapet is vitrified in retrospect. The result is a glass bay window, which can serve as a small winter garden and a double façade, eg against traffic noise, represents.

South-facing cantilevered balconies offer with the right sizing in the summer an effective shading underneath windows and glass facades, especially during the lunch hours. In winter, when the sun is low, they do not cast shadows on the underlying window and allow a passive use of solar energy through these windows or glass facades.

Peasant Architecture

In southern Germany and Austria, a balcony was also referred to as shot ( of which the or derived from schröten, cut ', cf ornamental meal), according to the longer -left bar bearings in the block house construction, or as Gangl.

This Balko Nage served less as recreation, but rather the dry storage of goods. Significant features are the gable and Traufständigkeit, depending on its roof and side position to the roof ( gable Traufschrot and meal) - at the farm forehead facade is mostly east or south, depending on the region. For some Hofformen the Alpine region the multistory on three sides (except the north side ) circumferential Balko Nage is typical.

Einhof with the circulating Gangl ( Tiroler-/Pinzgauerhof )

Half balcony under the forelock ( steirerhof )

Stock -specific formwork ( cadoranisch - Ladin yard )

Construction

The balcony may be a protrusion of the floor or a platform that is mounted on brackets, or cantilever beams to the outer wall of a building.

Balconies are made of wood, stone, concrete or metal.

Old balconies which open as a cantilever from the corresponding intermediate floor construction due form, often heat bridges, especially in reinforced concrete structures. In modern balconies balcony connectors ensure (special insulating elements ) for the necessary thermal insulation and thermal insulation. As an alternative to the static balcony with its own structure can stand in front of the actual building and will be tied back only to the outer wall.

Wooden Arms and railing uprights

Cantilevered floor plate with metal railing

Standalone structure in metal

Architectural history and stylistics

The balcony is a typical building element of rural areas, in the city he holds only in the later 18th and in the 19th century arrived, than you get the odor of the streets in the handle - until then loggias are more likely to courtyards usual, the street side of the building remains smooth. Today, it is distributed to all building types.

Baroque Palazzo Cusani, Milan

Rococo: Altes Rathaus ( Bamberg), 1756

Porches Balko - nage of Colonial: King Narai 's Palace, Thailand, 19th century

Art Nouveau: Antoni Gaudí, Casa Batlló, Barcelona, ​​1906

Modernism: Walter Gropius, the Bauhaus Dessau 1926

Modern: Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater, 1937

Modern balcony side of prefabricated type WBS 70 of the industrial housing of the GDR, Leipzig- Grunau, 1980

Current usage

Balconies are often embellished with ornamental shrubs as potted plants, flowers and often aromatic plants.

Many people spend their summer " staycation ". This term is meant to sound like a country name. Who goes on holiday " staycation ", not gone away, but spends his vacation time at home.

Tenancy

The balcony can be free as belonging to the apartment used by the tenant, provided that third party rights are not compromised or the substance of the apartment is at risk. Usually in the calculation of floor space 25 percent of the balcony area are recognized, but not more than 50 percent. It is permissible ( according to the case law max. Once per calendar month) to grill on the balcony to smoke or to celebrate. It can not be denied even to dry his laundry on the balcony.

The tenancy in Switzerland contains no balcony specific rules. Basically, the general rules of tenancy, after which the leased property must be carefully and comply with the treaty used by the tenant and this has it to take on the rest of the household regardless apply.

A lease and house rules these obligations can be specified.