Balcony Renovation

Case Study 2

Since the original area of the balcony is limited, it's necessary to extend the balcony outside the unit. (if we don't want to change the internal layout). But it's a challenge with the building facade materials and whether the facade and stand the extend weight.

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Objective

Based on the community survey, we can see residents’s requirements for balcony renovation:

–Area can enjoy sunshine

–Larger area

–Original Balcony Condition

–Material of Facade: concrete

–Balcony area is only 7.425 m², limited places to get sunlight.

Basic Rule

Option 1 Sunlight Room

To install an extra sunlight room is a normal way to extend the balcony in China. As long as we choose the right materials to build a sunlight room, we can ensure that in a day of sunshine, the sun can shine in. In this way, the sunlight of the sunlight room is very sufficient. We stayed in the sunshine and were very comfortable. Sunlight rooms actually have a lot of benefits.

Advantages:

--Lightweight structure, easy to transport

--The closed balcony is sealed against rain

-- Glazing ceiling can introduce more sunlight into the room

Material choices:

1. Glass+Emulsion

2. Steel structure

Cost:

Challenge:

--Expensive

--Overheating problem

--Less Privacy

--Need to be staggered, otherwise the balcony on the upper floor will affect the view.

Option 2 Extending Bracket

The extending bracket is formed by galvanised Steel Metal Sheet (translucent) and a steel bracket inside. Its connection way is based on the same theory with the cable structure. The translucent outer case ensure sufficient light can get into the unit, but also protect residents' privacy.

Connection Details

Advantages:

--Prevent visual from neighbors

--Block the visual but keep the sunlight

--Easy to install and renew

--Lightweight structure, easy to transport

Challenge:

--Have requirements to building facade

--May affect the facade appearance

Material choices:

1. Steel structure

2. Aluminium

Cost:

Balcony on different level is better to be interlaced, since it will affect the sunlight conditions. But the slope balcony structure will introduce sunlight into it.