Alegre - 150 best terraces and balcony ideas

From time immemorial, outdoor spaces have been essential parts of a house. Three hundred years ago, the most privileged spent much of their free time strolling through the gardens on their property, and they gave high priority to enjoying the outdoors as a way to improve health. Today, most homes have outdoor spaces that their owners can use for the activities they find most agreeable and interesting, including barbecues, enjoying a pool or a hot tub, sunbathing, eating, or playing and chatting late into the night. The inhabitants of houses decorate and fit out outdoor areas to meet their particular needs. It is also increasingly common in large cities for skyscrapers to be topped by spectacular roof gardens or adorned with balconies that can be used to escape and forget the hustle and bustle of the metropolis and that add greenery to a gray horizon. Few spaces in a home are more usable and rewarding than those that allow us to enjoy the outdoors, especially if the temperature is pleasant.

It was for this reason that we decided to prepare a book on terraces, patios, and balconies, to take inspiration from the latest trends and learn to apply them to our own outdoor spaces by tailoring them to our preferences and means.

Architect: Bercy Chen Studio Location: Lake Austin, TX, USA Photography: Paul Bardagjy This curious house, located on the edge of Lake Austin, has an original circular structure that is complemented by the undulating hills, thus highlighting the landscape that surrounds it. The curve of the staircase emphasizes the geometrical shape of the house even more. The house blends in with the area and becomes another feature of the landscape. In the large outdoor areas, shadows create spaces that can be used throughout the day, depending on the time and the intensity of the sunlight. In this oval space, the seating follows the contour of the large window. In this oval space, the seating follows the contour of the large window.

The backs of the chairs, the armchair, the center table, and the fan emphasize the elliptical shape of the viewing point.

Architect: Metrpolis Location: Lima, Peru Photography: Elsa Ramrez The house was designed to create a frame for the view of the beach and the islands in front of it. The aesthetic of the house celebrates the summer, with modern curves that call to mind the Brazilian architecture of the 1960s. The house has a white finish with color accents in red. The dining and living rooms are placed so they can be integrated with the terrace by simply sliding the glass doors. The edges and rounded forms that dominate the whole house soften the geometric and cubic lines of its architectural structure. The edges and rounded forms that dominate the whole house soften the geometric and cubic lines of its architectural structure.

The various components bring coherence and unity. The bedrooms have access to this interior patio, which is simple and spectacular in the bareness of its forms and decorations.

Architect: Nico van der Meulen Location: Louis Trichardt, South Africa Photography: David Ross This house derives from an outdated original residence with small windows and an unattractive faade, which meant it needed remodeling. Large windows that can be opened and closed were added, and the overly long hallway that led to the bedrooms was removed. The local climate is very hot, especially during the summer, so they placed smart windows that can control the amount of light that enters the house. The outdoor furniture is combined with the furniture inside the house to create a sense of unity and consistency in which stridency has no place. The pool is located between two spaces: indoor and outdoor. Architect:Next page