These two super-sized balcony structures - comprising prefabricated concrete columns and platforms - celebrate the scale and massing of the late nineteenth century apartment block that they abut.
The concrete’s etched finish - the result of extensive testing with several 1:1 samples, incorporating various aggregates and pigments - references the use of red sandstone in the door and window trims. And as a way of a counterpoint to the scheme’s solidity, self-supporting stainless steel railings elegantly enclose each floor plate.
The spindles in each railing section sit within precisley aligned, 50mm deep countersunk stainless steel bushings, collectively configured as a single unit within the pre-cast concrete mould. A series of circular steel plate surrounds completes the railing detail, slotting into the bushings and sitting flush with the floor.
Internally, the platforms are detailed with a 2% fall to allow for drainage. 3cm thick sandstone slabs, positioned on footings, provide a safe and durable surface. Throughout the scheme, the modular nature of the architecture is subtly disseminated by a 10mm shadow gap detail.
In essence, the project’s composition and geometry represents a seamless integration of making and thought, resulting in two contextually well measured structures.
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