Balconies as adaptable spaces in apartment housing

Abstract

New requirements for living, working, and learning at home due to Covid-19 have highlighted two fundamental needs in apartment housing: (1) adaptability to fit multiple functions in a limited area;and (2) access to private outdoor space to support residents’ health and wellbeing, and to provide spatial and thermal variety in small units. The two needs may initially appear to be disconnected: when residents have a high demand for flexibility and adaptability in apartment housing, balconies tend to be overlooked as potential spaces to facilitate adaptability. An analysis of several international housing projects with innovative balcony designs and unit designs is the basis for the identification of several typologies of balconies. Typologies of adaptable balconies and examples are used to show how they may support housing adaptability within a dwelling. The ‘adaptable balcony’ concept is introduced in the context of multifamily housing design, together with a clear definition of active and passive adaptability by inhabitants. © 2022 The Author(s).