Every time I go past these I always think they look so sad and bleak. Overexposed, small, directly over a main road, look like they were added as an afterthought as they don't blend with the building.

I hate them, but I want to see more; any other offensive residential modern architecture out there?

by rocki-i

28 comments

  1. I agree … I guess this was a way for the developer to give us all the finger for being required to build some affordable apartments as part of the One Tower Bridge development.

  2. Still superior to any juliet balcony, which is the most stupid and pointless architectural feature ever invented.

  3. I’ve seen worse. Some of the older balconies are tiny and shit looking.

    Those balcony they did are literally the cheapest option. I’d still be happy o have the balcony than not.

  6. They do look like springboards to the asphalt when the rents get too much.

  8. Large enough for sunbathing, I’d have thought, assuming they are on the appropriate sides of the building.

  10. I don’t think they’re the worst. A step better than those white rendered ones that become perma-slime stained. Brick looks way better and more appropriate for weathering. They just need some plants there.

    I often think the balcony plain underside is a missed opportunity. A different material or accent could make it more visual for people looking up.

  12. Sad in terms of them looking a bit sparse and hardly used yes…. overexposed? definitely not, these are far better than those cave like balconies seen on newer developments where you get fuck all sunlight into the flat let alone balcony

  14. I kinda like how they look like a drawbridge just dropped down. But yea they look like they could snap off at any moment and look just attached as an afterthought.

  16. You can peer out and see tower bridge. Great selling point for all the Airbnbs s/

  17. With some caning to have a modicum of privacy, some plants, a small table and a barstool, some solar lights and a bird feeder, they could be quite nice.

    But let me guess : the lease forbids it.

  18. That’s on the leadup to Tower Bridge isn’t it?

    Despite the location and the fact you can see the bridge from them, they’re so exposed and on a busy road.

    I feel like it would be extra painful because it would be close to being awesome, but you’d never really want to stay out there.

  19. I wouldn’t want to go on that balcony anyway. You’re directly over the road to tower bridge and the traffic there is non stop 🤢

  20. I’ve always been surprised to see that these even got planning approval. Everytime I get the bus over the bridge I notice that these balconies block the view of the bridge from the pedestrian side of the street. From my experience with planning authorities and their ridiculous reasonings for refusing our proposals I am curious whether it was ever considered by Southwark or just totally overlooked.

    https://preview.redd.it/87y3zx140i0f1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0d4e8f4603a35031afd8eff1f21c8bb29e3b2023

  21. They also wouldn’t be so sad if the homeowners were allowed to do wtf they want on them. Can’t dry clothes, can bbq fair enough, can’t have any furniture that would potentially ignite in a fire. Sad all around. We’re all aware of the reasons why these regulations exists but as far as sadness go, ooofff.

  22. I’m all for flats having their own little bit of outside space, but the new builds with balconies popping up on main roads that don’t get much sun … no-one’s getting enjoyment out of using those. It’s just another box-ticking fuck you aimed at the peasants by the developers.

  23. The diagonal cross bracing is an umm ‘interesting’ structural feature. I’ve not seen that before.

    Most balconies of this type are secured to the building using cantilever beams that project out into the floor of the balcony itself without the need for additional supporting members.

    This was presumably a cheaper solution but not one that fills me with confidence as it means there are additional elements that are prone to corrosion and failure and will need inspection and maintenance. Hopefully they are added for additional redundancy rather than being an essential part of the system that prevents the balconies from falling.

  24. Here, the architects have only added balconies to make the building look interesting and more saleable, and because the regulations require an “outdoor space”. But nobody will ever use them – because they are unusable. Here, on the other hand is a picture (in London) of what usable balconies look like. But you have to design the whole building in a completely different way – not just design a box and then stick on some “balconies”.

    https://preview.redd.it/b3m49f6y1i0f1.jpeg?width=859&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=70a871c6d288001baa68c38c6f1bbbc85ee51087

  28. Those balconies would look great if they had plants on them. It would change the whole look of the building. 

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