Topic summary
Balconies
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Balcony.
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.