Institute of Sociology NASU

BALCONY SPACE: ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY

stmm. 2021 (2): 136-155

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2021.02.136

ALLA PETRENKO-LYSAK, PhD in Sociology, Associate Professor at the Department of Branch Sociology, Faculty of Sociology, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (4d, Academician Hlushkov Av., Kyiv, 02000)

alla_pl@ukr.net

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1316-5002

TINA POLEK, PhD in History, Anthropologist at the “Centre for Applied Anthropology” (Ap. 49, 22a, vul. Praz'ka, Kyiv, 02090)

tina.momot@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5244-2095

Architectural elements and everyday practices of interaction of citizens with them are an integral part of the image and space of the city. That is why the analysis of the balcony as a social item requires its consideration precisely as a phenomenon in the multitude of its interrelationships with the urban space and the exploration practices. The article presents the anthropological and sociological characteristics of the urban balcony culture not as an architectural component, but in the focus of the everyday functions of their use and re-exploration. The word "balcony" is chosen to denote various types of balcony-like spatial forms, including loggias, small attics, bay windows, etc., because the "classic" balcony in Ukrainian mass construction is the most common. There is an outlined range of reasons that make the residents of Ukrainian cities fix a rather recognizable, so-called «domestic» look behind their balconies, thus creating authentic signs of modern Ukrainian cities. Based on the experience we have learned, we have proposed solutions to such an urban planning problem as the re-exploration and glazing of open balconies in the form of two strategies — pressure and encouragement. The presented theoretical and applied study concerns primarily the post-Soviet Ukrainian balconies. The research is mainly based on Kyiv materials, but the described tendencies are typical for most Ukrainian cities, regardless of their size and geographic location. A note on terminology: this text uses the word «balcony» for all types of spatial forms (rooms), including loggias and small attics, bay windows, etc. We realize that there are differences between these architectural elements, however, for convenience, and also because of the fact that the so-called «original» balcony is the most common in Ukrainian mass development, so the word «balcony» is used there as a generalizing term.

Full article: ukr | rus

Keywords: balcony, space, parasitic architecture, place

References

1. Dobrova, Ye.V. (2013). Modern balconies and loggias. Original ideas, the latest materials and work technologies. [In Russian]. Moscow: Ripol classic. Retrieved from https://online-knigi.com/page/219934 [Доброва 2013]
2. Ellard, C. (2016). Habitat: How architecture affects our behavior and well-being. (original name: “Places of the Heart: The Psychogeography of Everyday Life”). [In Russian]. Moscow: Alpina Publisher. [Эллард 2016]
3. Gulhzabidze, T.I. (Comp.) (1989). Our Home. [In Russian]. Chisinau: Timul. [Гуджабидзе 1989]
4. Home and Family: A Brief Encyclopedia (1988). [In Russian]. Chisinau: Main editorial office of the Moldavian Soviet Encyclopedia. [=Дом и семья 1988]
5. Jaffe, R., de Koning, A. (2016). Introducing Urban Anthropology. London, New York: Routledge.
6. Keedwell, P. (2018). Psychology of the city. How to be happy in a metropolis (original name: “Headspace: The Psychology of City Living”). [In Russian]. Moscow: Mann, Ivanov and Ferber. [Кидуэлл 2018]
7. Kotliar, Ye. (2007). Architecture of the «Jewish street». [In Ukrainian]. Ji. «Jewish all-world of Galicia», 48. Retrieved from: http://www.ji.lviv.ua/n48texts/kotlar1.htm [Котляр 2007]
8. Low, S. (2017). How private interests take over public space: zoning, taxes, and the incorporation of gated communities. [In Ukrainian]. In: (Dis)Satisfaction with public spaces. Urban studies (рр. 48–65). Kyiv. [Лоу 2017]

Received 20.03.2021