In a predominantly urban society, where it is necessary to ensure sustainable development, green spaces are key tools for structuring and qualifying outdoor spaces, for environmental protection and for improving people’s living conditions.
The growing importance of private outdoor spaces has been a concern of Ponto Urbano for some years. With the objective of minimising the urban impact of a new building in mind, flower and shrub planting areas are prepared as soon as the building is completed. We consider that these green spaces are of vital importance in multi-family buildings, as they intensify environmental comfort through natural light and ventilation.
Private exterior as a qualitative advantage of housing
The existence of a private exterior space dimension is always a fundamental and qualitative aspect in any housing solution. This way, the dwelling acquires a differentiating element, in which the possibility is created to develop activities which are usually indoors, such as reading, socialising, meals and professional work.
Advantages of the private exterior
In the use of private exterior spaces, we point out some crucial advantages in the interior-exterior relationship:
· They provide a feeling of being outside, despite remaining in the comfort of the domestic interior.
· They allow improved views of the surrounding environment and can even “transport” it to the interior, enriching it, almost bringing the garden indoors.
· They enrich the adjoining interior space.
· They can create real “neutral zones” that can be controlled in terms of environmental comfort, and of course, have good influences on greater home comfort and energy savings.
An extension of the house beyond the windows
The existence of balconies, regardless of their size, creates an extension of the house beyond the windows, a perspective that creates transitional spaces with specific lighting and view characteristics. Many of us would like to have a large private balcony, terrace, garden or patio, a desire that was well expressed in a LNEC housing survey, in which:
· more than 80% of respondents considered a private garden or patio to be necessary;
· 10% accepted the balcony as a substitute;
· only 7% considered the public garden close to the house as a possible substitute for the private exterior;
According to, Paulo Martins, CEO of Ponto Urbano “in a way, private outdoor spaces create an extra domestic dimension, a kind of belt of protection and relationship of the dwelling with its natural and urban surroundings, which is of great interest for the full satisfaction of those who inhabit a house with these attributes.”
Private outdoor spaces thus have specific and stimulating functions (e.g. gardening), provide the extension of indoor domestic activities (e.g. relaxing and socialising), and enrich and protect the domestic interior through well-framed views and strategic protection and shading.