• kersploosh@sh.itjust.works
    70·
    2 months ago

    In some places that is a strategy to satisfy zoning requirements. The builder has to provide a minimum amount of outdoor area per dwelling unit. They could create a large ground-level courtyard, or they can create a bunch of tiny balconies that sum up to the same total area. The ladder latter strategy allows a larger building to exist on the same lot.

    Edit: Stupid voice-to-text always gets me.

    • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.worldEnglish
      10·
      2 months ago

      A different design other than a basic box would allow them to make a large outdoor area at basically any level they want, not necessarily the ground, but that’s of course more expensive as well.

      • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        2 months ago

        so like, even if it were a box…

        They don’t really have to encase each floor. most buildings are concrete, and they could just as easily seal that floor off and leave the observation platform open. But the reality is that it gets pretty windy up that high, and most people won’t want to be out there for very long at all. And not at all if it’s at all inclement.

        not to mention… jumpers.

          • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            2 months ago

            Jumping is a bad way to go.

            Personally, assisted suicide should be allowed; (but also maybe mandate a few rounds of therapy?) this way people don’t have to find out what being a human shaped puddle is like, because they jumped from not-high-enough.

      • ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        11·
        2 months ago

        I think people value private outdoor space differently than public outdoor space. I don’t actually have a balcony but I think I would usually prefer a private space to a public one, even if the public one was much nicer.

        • TachyonTele@lemm.ee
          6·
          2 months ago

          It helps a lot if the balcony is somewhat enclosed. The balconies that are just iron fences with no privacy at all are basically useless.

  • Punkie@lemmy.world
    6·
    2 months ago

    I find them too windy and noisy half the time. They are also wet half the time, either from condensation or recent rain.

  • udon@lemmy.world
    14·
    2 months ago

    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

    • forgotaboutlaye@lemmy.world
      7·
      2 months ago

      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.

  • visnae@lemmy.world
    621·
    2 months ago

    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.

  • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.world
    171·
    2 months ago

    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.

    • 200ok@lemmy.world
      8·
      2 months ago

      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.

    • adarza@lemmy.caEnglish
      21·
      2 months ago

      … or just ‘exposed’. to neighbors, passers-by, and the pervert in the corner office across the street.

      • 200ok@lemmy.world
        5·
        2 months ago

        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.

      • ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        6·
        2 months ago

        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…

        • HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com
          7·
          2 months ago

          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.

      • Empricorn@feddit.nlEnglish
        2·
        2 months ago

        Joke’s on them! I’ll stare into their telescope and out-perv them any day of the week…

    • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
      11·
      2 months ago

      I don’t sit on my balcony despite the table and chairs I have out there, but I have lots of plants that soften the view and spark joy. It’s also a place the firefighters could pluck me from.

    • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
      2·
      2 months ago

      Me too. I have an outstanding rocking chair out there for reading. We also have a tiny table between two chairs, perfect for drinks.

      Edit: I just set a reminder for tomorrow morning to go out before it gets warm.

    • ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      4·
      2 months ago

      I wanted a balcony but the real estate agent politely implied that I couldn’t afford one in the area where I was looking for housing. With that said, I can see myself using it for just an hour or two a week while the weather is nice. I like the idea of sitting out on the balcony but I expect that in practice it would be noisy out there and boring on my own.

    • corsicanguppy@lemmy.caEnglish
      1·
      2 months ago

      We had a great balcony on 15 but wow, standing at the railing was only a sometimes-thing and only for a short while. Sorry of our guests wouldn’t go outside at all, and I completely understand why.

      I used to be afraid of heights. Then, in basic training, we did some rappelling. Every second of the process was a trained and well-practiced task, orchestrated on the day by sergeants “speaking clearly” as is their talent. There were no mistakes, there was no fear while wrapped in the process, and there was no hesitation. The actual heights part was a few fleeting seconds.

      This achievement stayed with me 20 years until I absolutely lost my shit while rock climbing a familiar route out in New Paltz, embarrassing myself, my family, my friends.

    • WoahWoah@lemmy.world
      5·
      2 months ago

      I had a friend that was drunk and was smoking and leaning back on a balcony and went over. No one even heard him. One minute he was there, the next minute he was gone. No one even looked down for a few minutes because people were regularly coming and going from the balcony and people just assumed he went back inside.

      Broke both his arms, his neck, fucked up his back, and had a major concussion. I think maybe he broke some ribs too. Really fucked him up. He didn’t die, but the head injury caused a dramatic personality change and the neck and back stuff created chronic pain.

      Another guy I knew intentionally jumped off a dorm balcony and severely and multiply fractured both his legs and fucked his knees forever.

      Don’t… uh, accidentally drop from great heights, people.

      • daggermoon@lemmy.world
        1·
        2 months ago

        I’m sorry to hear about your friend. I hope he’s doing well, all things considered. I will refrain from being drunk on a balcony. I don’t like being drunk anyways.