Effective light and air exchange are important aspects of a Juliet balcony’s design.
Well-lit rooms allow for improved recuperation, and adequate indoor air quality facilitates a comfortable living environment.
Daylight hours are also when the heat rises, so it is the ideal time to ventilate an upstairs room or enjoy a sunny day on the balcony.
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However, in properties that have limited space to accommodate a Juliet balcony, it is possible to have similar benefits with the following alternative design:
- floor-to-ceiling window
- roof windows
- dormer balcony
- fold-away balcony roof windows
- hung balconies
- stacked balconies
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Table of Contents
1. Floor-to-ceiling window
A Juliet balcony is a railing in front of a big window typically found on the first floor and higher.
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By putting a railing in front of the window, you avoid all the tripping hazards, and it’s a much more efficient use of space.
A floor-to-ceiling window can provide the same romantic feeling of being connected with the outside world, especially if it is positioned so that you can see the garden, street, or park below.
If the security and protection from these false balconies are not a risk or on top of your priority list, then choose this option.
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2. Roof window
Another way to feel connected with the outside world without putting your life in danger is through a roof window.
It allows you to see outside without having tripping hazards.
With a roof window, you can create a wonderful ambiance for an indoor balcony, mezzanine, loft, or attic bedroom, and it can be a great source of natural sunlight if you’d like to save energy.
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They even come with a center pivot or top-hung opening function to allow you to direct the airflow, prevent any unwanted accidents, and conserve space.
Whether it’s a skylight for the attic or a venting window for the other rooms, these can improve your view and even allow you to enjoy the fresh air.
3. Dormer balcony
A dormer balcony is an obvious choice if you want a permanent balcony projecting from the roof.
It can feature a roof overhang and a door opening to this platform on the roof’s slope.
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You can therefore step outside and enjoy the view, even if there are no other balconies on the building.
A dormer extension gives an outdoor space of its own to a loft conversion, main bedroom, or second bedroom.
Larger amounts of glazing can create a sun-filled, light, and airy room that is energy efficient and less likely to be affected by rain and draughts.
4. Fold-away balcony roof windows
Windows can, of course, be used to cover an interior balcony.
However, they can also serve as openable or retractable roof windows that enable an exterior roof balcony.
The 2-pane window system is one of the most popular solutions for such convertible roof windows.
One pane (the lower one) opens vertically outwards to create a “balcony area,” railing, or fence.
The other upper pane retracts into the roof or opens upwards to hang over the “balcony area,” where you can sit or even stand in the fresh air.
5. Hung balconies
Suspended platforms like those used for fire escapes hung on the exterior of a building.
For this to happen, the external wall and steel girders must bear the weight of the decking and the side railing.
Cantilevering outwards helps to distribute the load, especially when 45-degree angle steel cables are used to create the support structure.
In this sense, interior space is extended outwards like a balcony, albeit horizontally.
A full-height balcony floating from the joist level is an option for those with a high ceiling who want more headroom or an enclosed balcony.
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6. Stacked balconies
Pillared balconies are the most simple and minimal way to provide access to a building.
If you don’t want to alter the interior dimensions of your property, you can stack a vertical row of balconies on top of one another.
Given the reduced load factors and implications on the building’s façade and floor plan, this approach is ideal for townhouses, industrial buildings, and commercial spaces with a short-span design, shallow floors, and narrow staircases.
The weight of the balcony framework, including posts, pillars, decking, and handrails, will be carried by the supporting concrete pads next to the building’s foundation.
