SMALL SPACES, BIG IDEAS
WHETHER YOU HAVE A BALCONY OR TERRACE, THIS IS HOW DESIGNERS ARE APPROACHING MODEST URBAN OUTDOOR SPACES
FEATURE Hugh Metcalf
1 BRING THE INSIDE OUT
In this apartment in Barcelona with a covered terrace , Marta Castellano-Mas created an outdoor living space with indoor furniture. ‘ It is a covered terrace, and that permitted us to have furniture that is not properly outdoor and facilitates f luidit y bet ween the interior of the house and the ex ter ior.’ Marta Castellano-Mas, interior desig ner
2 COMFORT ZONE‘
Creating comfortable spaces, whether inside or out, starts with f lexibilit y. Incorporating a seating area on a balcony that is easy to use with multiple seating options is key for outdoor use. The ability to cosy up and move around with the wind or the sun is important. Soft textiles that feel good on you r skin are a must. A heating source and a shade, as needed depending on the season, and a v iew, of course, top off the ex perience.’ K risten Pena, interior desig ner and founder of K Interiors
3 FORM AND FUNCTION
The key to desig ning a successful ba lcony space is in what you wa nt it to do. ‘In one project, our client had t wo balconies, one with south exposure, and we opted to add a bistro table with a couple of chairs – aperfect spot for an intimate home-cooked meal or morning coffee. The other balcony had southwest exposure, so it was an opportunity to add sun loungers with small side tables. A great spot to rela x and enjoy Ma n hat ta n’s v iew.’ A hmad AbouZanat, interior desig ner and founder of Project AZ
4 GO GREEN
For Oshir Asaban’s ow n Tel Aviv apartment, the architect wanted to give the feeling of a private house and create a real garden there. ‘This is a place where you forget that you’re in a tower in the centre of an urban area. I planned in two large planters, with plants with stepping stones on them, and garden furniture, and along the entire balcony there are tall planters that can accommodate larger trees. Green vegetation can be seen f rom ever y corner of the penthouse, giving the feeling of being in a ver y private house.’ Oshir Asaban, architect and founder of Studio Oshir Asaban
5 DON’TNEGLECT LIGHTING
When designing a ba lcony that ’s of ten used at night, incor porating good, at mospheric lighting should be a top concern. In this project, LED lighting a long the balcony and a bespoke pendant light were used. ‘We were keen to incorporate a custom-fabricated perforated metal lig ht sh roud into the living area terrace for this project. The way the per forations both capture and diffuse lig ht gives
