Despite being an essential part of the Mediterranean facade, the balcony has been relegated to a background in the recent technological evolution of the envelope of buildings built in Spain since the end of the 20th century.In the same way that the facade is taken as an ally in the search for sustainable solutions and is treated as a dynamic skin capable of adapting to climatic changes, balconies, as being architectural spaces in direct relation with the outside are disclosed as elements potentially suitable to meet this objective. The current trend toward the industrialization of construction shall address soon the functional and constructive redesign of the balcony to optimize and integrate the entire process of demand, design, manufacturing and execution. This opportunity should be used to incorporate environmental vectors in its design, production and use. We must also respond to refurbishment of balconies in the framework of the renovation of the facade.

Peer Reviewed