Pattern 167: Six-Foot Balcony

“Balconies and porches which are less than six feet deep are hardly ever used.”

Simply stated this is one of my favorite patterns because of how aggravating it is. Balconies are so easy to design yet nine times out of ten, someone slaps a two-by-six frame on the side of a building and charges an extra hundred dollars in rent for what equates to grill storage. Alexander does a pretty good job of expressing my exasperation with subtle condescension;

“Our observations make it clear that the difference between deep balconies and those which are not deep enough is simply astonishing. In our experience, almost no balconies at all which are 3 or 4 feet deep manage to gather life to them or to get used. And almost no balconies which are more than six feet deep are not used.”

So what makes a good balcony? To start, space. Alexander determines that six feet is about the lower threshold for a small group of people to relax and hold a conversation. What truly makes a great balcony however is a sense of safety and privacy. Any manner of screens and architectural elements can aid in privacy but recessing the balcony part way into the mass of the building is my favorite solution. The perceived extension into the mass of the building does wonders for psychological stability even though they are functionally equal in construction. Also, the recess provides the option of privacy within the building without sacrificing exposure to sun and nature.

One exception to the six-foot rule that I would propose is for non-balconies. Take your standard slap-on platform and collapse it all the way to the wall so that it’s just a railing against the exterior of the building. Instead of providing a poor space outside, the outside becomes part of the interior. With wide opening French doors, you can effectively transform a failed pattern into a different pattern altogether. 163: Outdoor room; “…a partly enclosed space, outdoors, but enough like a room so that people behave there as they do in rooms, but with the added beauties of the sun, wind, and smells, and rustling leaves, and crickets.”