TERRACES AND BALCONIES for bioclimatic architecture of building

The terrace term is normally used to define an opened and feasible architectonic space, which is accessible from the single accommodation, in overhang or covered, with big sizes or merely small and defined such as the balcony. It’s generally surrounded by a view, wonderful landscape or exciting city context.
It was not used in ancient times and it was not still conceived during the classic period. It started to be relevant during the Renaissance, and it became a living space with Le Courbusier. At the same time, it rose to fame with the impressive terraces of Wright’s “House on the waterfall”.
Nowadays the terrace or simply the balcony is a part of residential project assuming gradually functionality and importance. Firstly, it was conceived as a place to deposit what is unwelcome in the accommodation. After, just in the seventies it became a place to spend enjoyable moments devoted to grow plants and flowers: here geraniums, roses and oleanders begin to embellish facades of apartment buildings and making sweeter city views from windows. A bit at a time, people got the wish of furnishing own terrace to enjoy with lunch or just with a coffee during radiant days of late spring. Moreover, people chose to light up the terrace to enjoy with the fresh air at the evening after a hot summery day. As a start, this trend became popular in cities, where daily life is always faster and green scarcity, especially in the seventies and eighties, getting always the wish of going away from the greyness of paved roads and from pollution. During these years, also residents of the green Brianza are not satisfied about their precious moments spent at the Park or countryside. They understood that it was possible to enjoy also at home with the emotion created by the natural surrounding environment, rich and generous with views.


ARCHETIPO’S TERRACES
Some years ago, we’ve been thinking of balconies, porticos and terraces as a part of our homes, to live daily with relax and serenity. At the same time the place is rich and easy, which it’s rich in vegetation with perfumes intensity and seasonal colors variety. Furthermore, and easy for maintenance.
Thus, also the terraces’ design is becoming more careful, from the ideation regarding living spaces to the selection of constructive materials and finishes.

In additional, the presence of deep terraces or porticos guarantees the summery shading and, consequently, the cooling of rooms during the hottest hours. While during the winner season it allows the transfer of sunbeams slower on the horizon, supporting the energy saving.


The flowers pot become an important characteristic, allowing to decorate the open spaces with a suitable vegetation, which must be conform to exposure to the sun in order to offer nice vegetative look in all seasons.

Suitable irrigation systems are planned to distribute the correct hydro contribution. They are connected with programmable control units and allow the maintenance of the vegetation in each moment, also in case of long absences from the apartment.
Thus, the terrace takes the form and function of a further room in the house, such as a true living room, opened but protected, which is able to offer some fresh in the summer but also some warmth during the central hours of the winter days.




In spite of this, terraces and balconies are a very good thing not only at home. Indeed, a building with green terraces get a positive environmental impact, where the green is considered a very important element regarding the bioclimatic architecture, and promotes a new opened way to live with environment integration.


