Balcony facts for kids

A balcony is a platform that sticks out from the side of a building. It's usually found on upper floors, not on the ground floor. Balconies are supported by strong pillars called columns or special brackets. They are enclosed by a railing, often called a balustrade, to keep people safe. You can find balconies on many different buildings, like houses, apartment buildings, and even big cruise ships. The word "balcony" comes from the Italian word balcone, which means "scaffold."

Different Kinds of Balconies

There are several types of balconies, each with its own unique look and purpose.

Maltese Balconies

In Malta, a country in Europe, you can often see a special kind of balcony. These are traditional wooden balconies that are completely closed off and stick out from the building's wall. They look a bit like a small, enclosed room hanging on the side of the building.

Juliet Balconies

A Juliet balcony is different because it doesn't actually stick out from the building very much, or sometimes not at all! It's usually part of an upper floor, with just a railing right in front of a tall window or door that can open. It looks like a small, open space, but you can't really step out onto it. In the United Kingdom, these are officially called a Juliet guarding.

Juliet balconies get their name from William Shakespeare's famous play, Romeo and Juliet. In the play, Juliet often appears at a window while Romeo talks to her from below. Even though the play doesn't actually mention a "balcony," many stage versions show Juliet on one. The famous "balcony of Juliet" in Verona, Italy, is actually a regular balcony that sticks out, not a Juliet balcony!

What Are Balconies Used For?

Balconies have many uses, from providing outdoor space to helping buildings be more energy-efficient.

Outdoor Space

Many balconies act like a small outdoor patio. They have doors that open from inside a room onto this small space, which often has railings. People use them to enjoy fresh air, grow small patio gardens, or just relax outdoors. A French balcony is a type of false balcony where doors open to a railing, offering a nice view but no real outdoor space to stand on.

Special Events

Sometimes, balconies are used for important ceremonies. For example, at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the newly chosen pope appears on a balcony to give a special blessing to the city and the world. Inside churches, balconies might be built for singers, and in large halls, they can be used for musicians during events.

Building Design

Balconies are also important for the way a building looks. They can make a building's front (its facade) more interesting and unique without making the inside structure too complicated or expensive.

Helping the Environment

Balconies can also help buildings be more sustainable and comfortable inside. They can act like an overhang, which means they stick out and help block too much sunlight from coming into the rooms. This can keep the inside of the building cooler and reduce the need for air conditioning. Balconies can also help block noise and improve how fresh air moves through the rooms.

What Are Balconies Made Of?

Balconies can be made from many different materials. In the past, stone was the most common material used. Today, with new technologies, balconies can be built from materials like glass and stainless steel. These materials give buildings a strong, modern look.

Famous Balconies

One of the most well-known uses of a balcony is in the "balcony scene" from Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. Even though the play itself only mentions Juliet at a window, this scene is almost always shown with her on a balcony.

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  A painting called Le balcon by Édouard Manet.

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  The balcony of Juliet at Villa Capuleti in Verona.

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  A balcony at Palazzo Cusani in Milan, Italy.

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  Members of the British royal family on the East Front Balcony at Buckingham Palace in 2023.

Gallery

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  An Indian balcony (called a Jharokha) at the Maheshwar Fort in Maheshwar, India.

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  Gothic balconies at the Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine in Nancy, France.

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  A Renaissance balcony at the Church of Saint-Pierre in Caen, France.

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  A Baroque balcony design from the Hôtel de Boullongne in Paris.

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  A Rococo balcony in the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City.

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  A Neoclassical balcony on Rue de Rivoli in Paris.

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  An Egyptian Revival balcony in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

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  A Renaissance Revival balcony in Strasbourg, France.

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  A Rococo Revival balcony on Rue Fabert in Paris.

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  A Romanian Revival balcony at the Gheorghe Petrașcu House in Bucharest, Romania.

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  A National romantic balcony at the Finnish National Theatre in Helsinki, Finland.

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  A Beaux-Arts balcony on Avenue de l'Opéra in Paris.

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  An Art Nouveau balcony with a special design under it, on the Hôtel Brion in Strasbourg, France.

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  Balconies in the city of Guimarães, Portugal, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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  An Art Deco balcony in Haute-Savoie, France.

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  Postmodern coffee cup-shaped balconies in Tokyo, Japan.

Images for kids

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  A balcony with a dormer window (kajuit) in Groningen.

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  A balcony on a building in Paris.

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  A balcony on a bank building in Vienna.

See also

In Spanish: Balcón para niños