There aren’t many smokers anymore, and small apartment balconies were usually used for smoking.
The bigger ones are great for parties but that’s not an everyday event
97% of the time, the average car just sits in the parking space, taking up space not being used.
I guess you can say something similar applied to balconies. They are probably being used, but only a small portion of the day.
That’s funny. I see all the skyscrapers around here with balconies and I get jealous, but I never thought about the fact that I almost never seen people on those balconies until I read your question.
For smokers
People want the option to use their balcony. Then they realize it’s usually not so pleasant being exposed like that to the sun, wind, temp.
… or just ‘exposed’. to neighbors, passers-by, and the pervert in the corner office across the street.
There’s definitely a guy in the building across from me that stares. I don’t think he’s a creep – he’s probably just bored and looking around – but his face is pressed up against the window so he stands out. I’ve made eye contact a few times, ugh.
Heh, I walk around naked with the blinds open because where I live, people would need binoculars to see me and if they choose to, their resulting suffering is their own fault. One advantage of being unattractive…
I was annoyed at this local news investigation about a high rise neighbor complaining about another walking around naked with the blinds open. They had footage blured out but when you saw them talk with the “irate” neighbor you could tell they must of had to have put the camera right up to the window. Its like wtf you see the guy because your pressing you face against your glass to get a look. No way you see him if you casually hanging in your place.
Joke’s on them! I’ll stare into their telescope and out-perv them any day of the week…
Just put walls on there, problem solved.
Do you never leave your house? Your comment reads like someone who never goes outside.
Agreed! They’re always filthy/dusty and annoying to clean.
And even though no one gives a shit enough to stare, it’s hard not to feel… watched.
They are not human friendly.
It’s for emergency exit.
/s
Mines handy for being able to clean the outside of the windows
Depends on where you live. In Japan, most of the time it’s either way too hot to hang out on the balcony or way too cold. In Europe it’s fine in many places for most of the year.
Some of it also has to do with rent prices which can be higher if you have a balcony.
Also, and again in Japan: There is an emergency balcony exit in some apartment buildings in case a natural disaster hits. It’s probably easier to climb your way down a bunch of balconies with holes in the ground than a blank wall
I live in Berlin, and while I don’t have a balcony myself, I spend a lot of time enviously starring at my neighbours that do, as they use them quite a bit.
Counterexample. We love our little balcony. We have some plants, a bench, and a hummingbird feeder. We take our coffee out there for ‘cocktail hour’ at 7, and sit, talk, watch the world go by a few floors down, and enjoy each other’s company.
If you’re not using your balcony, you really should.
yess we have a similar situation!! i was under the impression EVERYONE used their balconies!
There are a tonne of apartment balconies that are just afterthoughts by the developer though. I see plenty that are narrow to the point of being useless, or 30 floors up with no enclosed overhang which just generally feels kinda terrifying.
Totally
Same with backyard. None of my neighbors are ever in their backyard. How do I know? If it’s not raining and it’s above 20c very likely I am in mine.
Agreed. I live on my back patio when it’s warm enough. I’ve gotten called out (not in a bad way) on meetings for my hammock background. ;-)
Maybe in order to give each resident the same chance to jump?
/s
…smokers…
A friend of mine in Toronto is forbidden to smoke on his balcony now.
300sqft for $3500/month and they’re not even allowed to smoke?
plants and barbecues
Except BBQs are often against fire code so they’re not allowed 😭
certain ones can sometimes be allowed, go figure. fire is different depending on what’s producing it!
where I am at we can only use electric. Would seem wierd to me to not allow any.
Are you in Europe? In the US, our 120 volt mains limit the size of what can go in our normal outlets. I’ve never seen an electronic grill, unless you mean something that we would call a griddle.
I occasionaly hear about people having their freezer out on the balcony. It makes sense for colder countries, as the temperature difference would be lower than if it were inside. But on the other hand, I’m pretty sure most freezers are not built to endure weather.
freezers work reasonably well in cold climates, provided they don’t try to auto-defrost, fridges not so much.
I’m curious, what makes fridges bad in cold climates?
the insides freeze, also compressors need their oil to not be a gel.
So pot plants have somewhere to die
Mine love it out there.
The trick is to bring them inside before it gets cold.
