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Outlooks: Walk Into the View
Extreme Balconies Extend Living Space Into the Air Around You
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning degrees, and over ten years experience in architectural practice, split between Chicago and NYC. Currently I'm focused on writing and online pursuits. My daily blog can be found at http://archidose.blogspot.com
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City.... More »
Balconies are fairly common in residential architecture, especially in urban conditions where a yard may not be available, and in areas of natural beauty where a view is prized. Yet what I'm calling overlooks are less common: More deep than wide, these types of balconies reach out far from the walls of the house or the adjacent terrace. They give people a point of view not possible from a shallow balcony. Perched above the surroundings, the feeling of being a bit closer to nature can be perceived, and the house itself may even be put on display in the process. Following are some projects that incorporate overlooks in different contexts and for different reasons.
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| This is easily the most extreme overlook found on Houzz, which contributor Becky Harris called "a bridge to nowhere" and "a pirate's plank." Note the structural bracing underneath, good evidence that this cantilever is quite long. |
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by Elliott Kaufman
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| This house designed by Gertler & Wente Architects has plenty of balconies, which extend along most of this facade overlooking the Hudson River. Projecting from this expanse is a diving-board-like overlook ... |
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by Elliott Kaufman
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| ... Up close it's easier to see the reasoning behind this overlook: It locates people above the steep slope leading to the river. In plan this extension aligns with a gap between the house's two volumes, making it stress movement towards the Hudson. |
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| This house in Texas also has a lot of balconies wrapping its perimeter, but as can be seen they are fairly shallow, more circulation than usable outdoor space. This overlook provides a seating area and a stunning view of the water. |
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| This house is split into two volumes that are connected by a breezeway on the second floor. This gap extends to become an overlook that reaches towards the backyard. From the side ... |
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| ... this overlook is perched above the terrace below. The second-floor space gives a higher glance down the sloping landscape from above. It also shades the ground-floor entry. |
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| Not all overlooks are large or commanding. This project in Portland, Ore. shows that even a little bit of outdoor space in an urban context is desirable. These balconies project from the reveals in this wood-clad elevation. The minimal guardrails give a light appearance and allow views through them. |
Here the integration of a balcony and overlook can be seen at left. A typical shallow balcony extends beyond the battered walls underneath to provide a small lookout for the residents.
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by SB Architects
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| The overlook in the top-left corner is one of many outdoor spaces integrated into this Hillside House. There are inset balconies, terraces, and even semi-outdoor rooms (the stacked rooms in the photo's middle). The projecting balcony is an extension of a roof terrace. Note how a notch in the solid guardrail one floor below mimics this overlook. |
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| Last, this squarish overlook does double duty: It provides outdoor space and also covers the water tank for this house in Australia. The tank still has a commanding presence, but at least there is one place outdoors where the residents don't have to look at it.
Next: More Architectural Details Save a Tree: Build Your Deck Around It Modern and Contemporary: What's the Difference? |
Ideabook published on June 1, 2011.
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It might actually be worth a visit to that building (I think it's close to New Orleans) or another one to see how the material holds up even over a short period. You could also contact the school that worked on it: http://www.newschool.edu/parsons/info-wash/
Ultimately I'd agree that maintenance will be required to keep the appearance of cedar, but that shouldn't discourage you. No wood will weather perfectly without some maintenance. A project near where I live in Queens uses cedar for a brise-soleil on a glass office block; the warp of the wood in a few short years is much worse than the graying of the material. While some responsibility goes to the architect for detailing the connections, the client should also have put some effort into maintenance. Not doing it is putting off the inevitable, and at a greater expense in the future.