na balkon! na balkon!
out on the balcony! na balkon! is a set of furniture and accessories dedicated for balconies in the city. The set includes: a folding table, two seats: a stool and a chair (with fabric cushions), pots in two sizes, a watering can, an ashtray, a pouffe and two elements used for storage — for larger and smaller spaces — a table with a tray and a basket and a cabinet (with a top for transplanting plants). It was created for people living in the cities, in apartments with balconies, who appreciate functionality and are open to modern styles and haven’t found solutions dedicated to small, outdoor spaces on the market. In order to understand the needs of potential users, we have conducted: quantitative (an online survey) and qualitative (in-depth interviews) research. Analyzing them and using their own observations and experiences, we decided to design better forms of existing solutions and create new amenities. This set should rather be understood as a catalog of elements from which you can create small configurations corresponding to the specific needs of people, tailored to the specifics of each balcony. On the basis of the research, the personalities of several characteristic users with their balconies were developed. For their needs, interests, ways of spending free time and space, the designers chose matching and needed furniture from the set. Six months after the defense of the diploma project, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. In the event of a threat that affected almost all of humanity, the importance of home space increased, and balconies played and continue to play a special role in it. Despite the fact that the reality surrounding us is heartbreaking, we feel very positive that our work proved so important.
1. analysis questionnaire, interviews types of balconies 2. catalog elements: furniture and accessories color options 3. application examples
1. analysis questionnaire We collected and summarized responses from 75 people about their perceptions of balconies.
The age of the respondents ranged from 18 to 51 years old, the largest number of respondents was 22 years old - 32% of the respondents. They live with: their parents, partner, friends/ roommates, alone They inhabit all types of buildings, on various floors, most frequently on the second floor, least frequently on the first floor; Mostly in small streets (70%) and near a park/forest/etc (28%); in districts bordering the city center (64%) they access the balcony usually from the living room (64%), less often from the bedroom (36%)
Do you like your balcony?
15%
57% yes
23% 5% 57%
15 % no 23% a little 5 % other
What is the best thing about it? 1. the view 2. the plants 3. the fact that it is big (long etc) further: the things on it (chairs, swing, railing etc); the fact that it exists For me, a balcony is a place ... 1. a place of rest (oasis) 2. somewhere between indoors and outdoors. further: an extension of the apartment; a garden/yard/basement that I don’t have What do you do most often on a balcony? 1. relax 1. smoke further: 2. sit, eat read drinking coffee/tea/wine talk on the phone talk to friends observe tan check the weather water plants exercise thinking
What do you have on your balcony when it’s warm? ashtray plants / flowers / herbs in pots (free-standing and hanging from the railing) table and chairs chairs / stools empty flower pots and gardening tools rug / blanket deck chairs flower potting soil laundry dryer bike hammock watering can What do you have on your balcony when it’s cold? ashtray empty flower pots and gardening tools table and chairs Year-round plants soil for the flowers hammock lights, lantern fruit and vegetables (as long as it is not too cold) garbage nothing
What’s in the disturbing you there? stuff; clutter; lack of privacy; lack of a nice view; dirt; noise; cold floor; smog What is missing? 1. space 2. plants 3. order 4. privacy 4. space to relax (chairs, hammock, seat, more comfortable seat)
as many as 40% of respondents think that the balcony space is not well managed, another 10% think it could be better
Do you have on your balcony ...? flag - no (72%) bicycle - no (83%) laundry - I put the dryer out (44%), I have a permanent dryer (11%) food - yes, in winter (21%) crops - I have vegetables, fruits or herbs (13%) birds - yes, I feed them (15%), yes, but I scare them away (13%)
interviews Below is a short characterization of the people we interviewed and a description of their balconies, as well as other important issues raised during the interview
Krysia student (22 years old), has been living with her boyfriend for a year and a half; city center, tenement house, 5th floor; balcony leads out from living room, onto one-way street; balcony is long and narrow Krysia likes her balcony. She goes out to smoke on it most often. In the summer she sunbathes and watches what is going on in the street. There is only one stool and a jar for cigarettes on it, but in the summer there is a table which she and her boyfriend put out and they eat, work or read. Krysia would very much like to have flowers, but she hasn’t motivated herself to plant them yet. The balcony is a moment of rest for her, also from technology - she and Marcin never take their phones on the balcony. „I miss having nice cushions and furniture so I don’t have to lug it back and forth, then I’d go out for more than just a cigarette.” Marta and Bartek a student (23 years old) and an artist (33 years old) who have been living together for several months; Żoliborz, an old tenement house, 3rd floor; a balcony with windows overlooking a vast internal courtyard which is open on one side; it overlooks the bedroom and living room; it is a medium-sized rectangle - 1 by 2.3 m Marta and Bartek like their balcony, although they don’t use it too often. They value it because it is quite private as it overlooks the courtyard. They say the coolest thing about it are the plants - some of them grew themselves in pots with soil. The balcony is a substitute for a garden and a place for laziness, sometimes Bartek stretches out on it. They do not like the color of the railings - it is dark brown and sad. They often hang up the laundry, and sometimes they lie together on a blanket and rest. „The balcony is another room for me, a vantage point. I like to stretch out on it and peek at my neighbors.”
„What I like most - well looking at people, yeah. Also to stand there and wishing for a bigger balcony.”
Hania and Karol students, both 21 years old, living together; Powiśle, one-bedroom apartment in a block of flats, windows and balcony facing a small street with a park behind it, 1st floor; the balcony is 1 x 1 meter They have never had a balcony before, so they like it, but they know it is not amazing. The coolest thing about it is the view of the park. Sometimes they have breakfast together on the balcony, they put out a table. They often have friends visit, then it fits a lot of people. Most often they watch people. Sometimes they feed birds and they used to have a composter. They could use two chairs, or more flowers. „There were a couple of times when we ate breakfast in such a way that I was sitting outside in a recliner and Karol was inside and just had his feet outside.”
Kasia and her mum Kasia is a student (24 years old), her mother is a dentist; Ursynów, new construction; Kasia lives there with her family (4 people plus a dog); the balcony is accessed from the living room, it can also be accessed from Kasia’s parents’ bedroom, it’s the biggest balcony we’ve visited (2.7 x 4.8 metres) They have an unusual octagonal table and folding chairs - it comes in handy because they tie them together when the wind is strong. There are lots of flowers on the balcony - apparently normally there are even more. Pot covers and soil for the flowers is cleverly hidden behind the thuyas. They try not to clutter the balcony because it is very visible from the living room - the outgoing windows reach to the ground.
Stefan works in a new technology company (24 years old), lives with his girlfriend and brother; Downtown, tenement house, 3rd floor; balcony with windows overlooking a small inner courtyard with a large chestnut tree, accessed from the bedroom; balcony is very narrow (0.7 m) and about 3 meters wide He likes the balcony for what it is. On the balcony he usually smokes, talks on the phone or checks what the weather is like. He and his girlfriend have lots of flowers and herbs there. A chair and an ashtray stand there. „I’m missing a wall of plants, covering the balcony a little bit so that I’m sheltered - really - the neighbor is scowling and it creats a bad environment.”
Ania and Kasia a student (22 years old); they live on the 3rd floor of a building near Łazienki Królewskie Park, the balcony is accessible from Ania’s room Ania likes her balcony very much, especially when she wants to have another space to work - she hangs her work on the balcony and comes out with a cushion to sit on. The girls relax on the balcony; it’s a place that allows them to breathe. In the summer, Ania puts out flowers on the balcony, usually standing on a small ladder set up. When friends come over, cushions are laid out on the balcony for sitting. There’s also one bench and a small plastic table brought from Kasia’s grandparents’ apartment, which the girls don’t like. The floor is covered with green, artificial grass. „I have the feeling that people treat the balcony as some kind of storage room. When I was in Barcelona, Rosa had a beautiful view, of the Diagonal center, and she cluttered it up with some deck chairs, pots, pallets, she had so much of it there... gosh, you can sit and just stare but you can also have it cluttered up...”
„It is best if there is nothing on the balcony - except flowers - so that it looks nice from the street. It is important that there is no clutter - a table and two chairs look good, a deckchair is also acceptable. A table in which you can hide something is also good. You can not attach anything to the wall, because it destroys the substance.” Grandmother Irenka (Hela’s granny) age 81, has been living alone since her grandfather’s death ( that is, for a year), in the apartment for 3 years; Czerwonego Krzyża Street - Powiśle, a pre-war tenement house on a small street with windows overlooking the building of the hospital in Solec, 3rd floor, 0.5x 2.5 She likes the flowers on her balcony the most and goes out most often to replant them. She says it is well taken care of, because there are only the mentioned flowers, a box with vegetables and a bag of soil to take care of the plants. It is important that the balcony looks good from the street. When the weather is warm, he puts out a dryer with laundry on half the balcony.
„Thanks to the balcony, I can see what’s going on - people on the sidewalk, cars. The last time I was on the balcony for an extended period of time was this morning because I was watching the kids who were going to school.”
types of balconies from the most common The dimensions of balconies are given in metres. Balconies with the designation a are larger balconies, where a ≥ 2.5 m, while balconies with the designation b are very long but narrow, where b ≥ 1 m and the longer side is at least three times the length of the shorter side. The last category are balconies, in unusual shapes - semicircles and others.
2. catalog furniture accessories
furniture
stool
diameter: 415 mm height: 450 mm frame: aluminum pipe, polyester powder coating seat: metal sheet aluminium sheet, polyester powder coating A three-legged stool with a perforated seat. It is complemented with a cushion attached with magnets.
chair
diameter: 415 mm height: 825 mm seat height: 450 mm frame: aluminum pipe, polyester powder coating seat, back: metal sheet aluminium sheet, polyester powder coating A three-legged chair with a perforated seat and back with an hole suitable for carrying. It is complemented by a cushion attached with magnets.
table
width: 805 mm depth: 490 mm height: 750 mm frame: aluminum pipe, polyester powder coating top: aluminum sheet, polyester powder coating A small table with the possibility of folding. After removing the top, the frame can be separated into three parts and then easily transported off the balcony and stored in the basement through the winter.
cabinet
width: 473 mm depth: 353 mm height: 1117 mm rack: aluminium pipe, polyester powder coating shelves, walls, doors: aluminium sheet, polyester powder coating
Cabinet with three shelves. Two of them, with a height of 22 and 30 cm are behind doors, one, placed at the lowest is open (well suited for storing earth for plants). The top of the cabinet is designed as a tabletop for carrying out small housekeeping jobs, such as repotting flowers.
coffee table with tray and basket
diameter: 415 mm height: 625 mm rack, tray holder: aluminum tube, polyester powder coating tray, basket: aluminium sheet, polyester powder coating
Tripod table with removable tray with handle and perforated, removable basket for storing small items, for example, a small bag of plant soil.
accessories
flowerpot round
diameter: 190 mm height: 170 mm aluminum sheet, polyester powder coating Round pot expanding upwards made using sheet metal crimping technology.
flowerpot oblong
width: 480 mm depth: 215 mm height: 170 mm aluminium sheet, polyester powder coating Elongated, oval pot expanding upwards made using sheet metal crimping technology.
watering can
width: 350 mm depth: 140 mm height: 325 mm capacity: 3 l handles, spout: aluminium tube, polyester powder coating Tank: aluminum sheet, polyester powder coating Watering can with precise funnel and two handles for easy pouring of water once it is full and heavy.
ashtray
diameter: 100 mm height: 128 mm handle: aluminum pipe, polyester powder coating bowl: aluminum sheet, polyester powder coating Ashtray with handle for carrying and attaching.
puff
diameter: 440 mm height: 250 mm upper outer fabric: cotton bottom outer fabric: kodura (polyester, PVC coating) filling: silicone granulate The puff is made of two materials. In the upper part from cotton, and in the lower part from codura - waterproof outdoor material, resistant to abrasion.
cushion seat
diameter: height: 30 mm outer fabric: cotton filling: eco-recycled foam (recycled foam) magnets: stainless steel Cotton cushion that attaches to the seat with magnets sewn into it.
3. application examples Based on our research we developed personas of several users (with their balconies). To meet their needs, interests, ways of spending free time and using space, we selected suitable and necessary furniture from our set.
Zosia and Antek who: student couple where: studio in a low block of flats in the district of Powiśle, balcony 1x1 m, overlooking a small street and a park what: Antek grows plants (flowers, herbs and vegetables), Zosia likes to stand and watch people from the balcony, they both read books, study. They like to invite friends over. They don’t smoke themselves, but guests always do on the balcony. balcony furniture proposal: oblong plant pots - for hanging on the railings table with tray and basket - for soil for flowers and as a table ashtray - for smoking friends
Jola and Julka who: a couple of young artists - sportswomen where: apartment in an old tenement house in the Żoliborz district with a balcony of 2,5x1 m, overlooking the courtyard what: The girls like to use the balcony for morning stretching, read books on it and browse through albums. On sunny days they lie down, sunbathe and eat their meals. They grow plants on it. balcony furniture proposal: table two stools puffs (on which you can lie down and comfortably change positions, and when not in use fold up to gain more floor space) pots for plants (oblong to hang and round to put on the windowsill) watering can
Asia and Marek with Karol and Staś who: parents with two children (4 years and 1,5 years) where: an apartment in a new building in Kabaty with a 4x1.5 m balcony overlooking the housing estate’s courtyard what: Parents often put Stasio to sleep in the stroller on the balcony. Karol likes to play with his toys there. Marek often arranges to hang out with his neighborhood friends for chats and wine on the balcony. balcony furniture proposal: table two chairs (with cushions) a table with a tray and storage function oblong flowerpots to hang from the railing watering can
Janek and Wanda who: an elderly couple where: tenement house in Ochota district with balcony 2x1 m, overlooking quite big and busy street what: The couple likes to sit on the balcony and talk, drinking tea and watching passers-by. They also take care of transplanting and watering geraniums, which are their favorite balcony flowers. balcony furniture proposal: table two chairs (with cushions) oblong flowerpots to hang on the railings watering can
Zdzisław who: an elderly man where: an old block of flats in Wola with a 2x1 m balcony overlooking a small street and with a view on a bench in a nearby park what: Zdzisław often sits on his balcony with his leg stretched out due to circulation problems. He reads newspapers, solves crossword puzzles, smokes cigarettes and watches the people below. balcony furniture proposal: table a chair with a cushion puff (for the streached leg) ashtray
designers
Agnieszka Cieszanowska I am a young designer dealing with product, graphics, space and experience design. I graduated from the Faculty of Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, and currently I am studing Social Design at Design Academy Eindhoven. I am a laureate of national and international competitions and a participant in exhibitions devoted to art and design (make me! - Łódź Design Festival; Młodzi na Start - Elle Decoration - Gdynia Design Days; Transfashional at MuseumsQuartier and CSW U-jazdowski; Graduation Projects - Zamek Cieszyn; Siemens Future Living Award; Salone del Mobile, Milan, POLISH DESIGN. Tomorrow is today). While designing it is crucial to me to look into spaces in between, creat or recreation relationships and transmit experiences. I often do it by engaging with the everyday objects and practices. . I work on individual commissions, as well as an informal art-design collective LABA with Anna Jurgielewicz and as a member of the TakŁadnie cooperative.
Hela Wierzbowska I am a young designer, currently based in Warsaw where I am working on my Master’s degree at the Faculty of Design at the Academy of Fine Arts. I gained my professional experience during internships in studios dealing with ux and branding. Currently, I work on interior design, furniture, packaging, visual identity elements and graphics at the Jan Strumiłło architectural studio. I am a finalist and winner of various international and national competitions as well as a participant of design exhibitions (make me! - Łódź Design Festival, Graduation Projects - Cieszyn, Młodzi na Start! - ELLE Decoration, Gdynia Design Days, Found in Poland - NAP, Transfashional - Center for Contemporary Art U-jazdowski Castle and Austrian Cultural Forum). I co-organized two design exhibitions. In design I try to take up various topics related to the problems and pleasures of everyday life.
instagram.com/na.balkon/
Project „na balkon!” was created in 2019 as a bachelor’s degree at the Faculty of Design of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, under the supervision of Dr. Paweł Grobelny photos: Ignacy Ciszewski and Agnieszka Cieszanowska photos were taken in Wozownia Bar in Warsaw
Many thanks to Maria Wierzbowska for making the textile elements of the project. To Ignacy Ciszewski for invaluable help during photo session. Special thanks to Kasia Brągiel, Stefan Czartoryski, Ada Krenz, Karolina Niewiadomska, Krzysztof Olczyk, Krystyna Pawlak, our parents and everyone who decided to support this project financially.
