Everything You Need To Know About Balconies

For centuries balconies have been used to add extra light and fresh air to a room and- depending on the design – as a place in which to sit out in the sun. Indeed, the earliest balconies are thought to date back 2,000 years in Ancient Greece.

The word balcony is derived from the Italian balcone which means a scaffold and the German balcho which means beam. It is basically a platform that extends outwards from the wall of a building and usually surrounds French windows which are opened inwards. The balcony has a balustrade at the front and sides which prevents the occupants from falling off. A balcony can be supported by columns of brickwork, steel, or cast iron; it can be supported by brackets attached to the wall; or it can be cantilevered – i.e. projecting from the side of the building with no other support.

Balconies have evolved over the ages in a wide variety of designs to complement the building on which they are mounted. However, the design called a Juliet balcony – after Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet – is not technically a balcony at all because it has no platform for anyone to stand on. It is really just a barrier surrounding French windows which prevents the occupants from falling out, but they are actually standing, or sitting, inside the house. However, Juliet balconies remain popular as they are an effective way to add light and air to an upper room. Today, they are often added to new buildings in the form of toughened glass which gives an uninterrupted view of the outside world or the streets below.

Although we have many buildings in the UK with balconies, the place to see them in profusion is along the Mediterranean where in some cities it is rare to see a building without one. Whether they are used to take in the view of the sea or the mountains, a lake, or overlooking farmland, almost every building has one or more balconies. Even down the back streets you will see buildings with balconies providing the occupants with a birds’ eye view of the hustle and bustle in the street below. Of course, in the hot Mediterranean climate people want to let in as much fresh air as possible especially if they live in an apartment four or five floors high.

If you go to Malta you will see many examples of the famous traditional enclosed wooden balconies, although these were not designed until the late 17th century. The balconies built entirely from stone originated in medieval times, and it was only later that the wooden ones emerged. The palace of the Grand Master in Valletta is thought to be the first example of one composed of wood and glass.

Some of the world’s most famous balconies include the one on the Argentinian Presidential Palace which is known as the Casa Rosada. This has seen famous personalities standing on it such as Pope John Paul II when he waved to the crowds from it in the 1980’s. In 1995 it appeared in the film Evita when Madonna sang "Don’t Cry For Me Argentina" while standing on it.

Other famous balconies include the one on the House of Juliet in the Italian city of Verona which dates from the 13th century and where it is thought that it is the one from which Juliet wooed Romeo. Then there is the stone balcony on St Peter’s Basilica in Rome from which the Pope regularly delivers his blessing to the crowds.

In Britain, Juliet balconies started to appear in the late Georgian era and were of wrought iron which could be quite intricate in order to give important buildings a sense of prestige. These would simply cover one window on an upper floor, and in Victorian times French windows were constructed using less glazing bars as stronger and larger panes of glass removed the need for so many, which let further light into the room and required a balcony.

Of course, balconies Milton Keynes today are of more modern design since the town was only developed from the 1960’s. Juliet balconies on some buildings are minimalist in appearance.

TME Fabrications is a specialist in constructing and installing high quality metal balconies in Milton Keynes for both residential and commercial properties. The addition of a balcony to your property increases your living space and enables you to enjoy the outdoor life.

Tme Fabrications specialise in designing, manufacturing and installing balustrades in Milton Keynes in a wide range of sizes and shapes.