Spaces Rediscoverd Using and Re-using a forgetten space
THE BALCONY
On moving into our house in 2007, there were a lot of new experiences and unfamiliar spaces. One of which was the balcony on the first floor which led to the terrace. We did not have such a space in our previous house which made me question why was there was an extra room on the outisde with nobody using it? This question baffled me for a long time till we made some changes to the entire house and the balcony, to make it our new Home.
The following article is a brief way of discribing how the Balcony changed and evolved with time. During the time of a global pandemic when we were all forced to stay indoors, this balcony became a small window to the outside world.
01
DRAWING 1: INITIAL STAGE OF THE BALCONY UPON MOVING INTO THE HOUSE.
Our First Guests
Soon after we moved in the we saw that our garden recieved less to no sunlight because of the construction of houses around it. My mother wanted a patch of green in the house and the Balcony was the first place she sought after.
This region of the house faces the North due to which it recieves ample amount of sunlight throughout the day. Filling the place all sorts of potted plants and climbers, soon the it was converted into our secondary garden. During the lockdown we would assign weekly shifts to water the plants on alternate days, in a way we all started to spend a small amount of time in the Balcony.
02
DRAWING 2: ADDITION OF DIFFERENT VARITIES OF PLANTS BY MY MOTHER.
A Glimpse of the Outdoors
The pandemic had forced all of us to stay indoors. This cut down the daily quota of playing with friends, running and going for walks. The Balcony being close to all of our rooms became a new spot for daily exercise. Occupied at different times of the day the plants and the openess provided a freedom we had all been wanting after staying indoors for a long period for the first.
We never thought the view from this space would interest us, during a lockdown looking at a few people passing by or talking to our neighbours from there became a new activity.
03
DRAWING 3: SPACE FOR EXERCISE AND YOGA.
To Unwind
There were three furniture items we had for the Balcony when we first moved in, two foldable chairs and a table. These pieces of furniture althought being present were never really used. Even after weathering for almost thirteen years they still were in good condition to use. A small sit-out for having chai and snacks was created.
This provided for numerous conversations with family and friends. As the lockdown lifted, friends would often come over to meet and share there experiences and talk about the new normal.
04
DRAWING 4: A SPACE FOR MEETING FOR CHAI IN THE MORNINGS AND EVENINGS.
Gatherings, Dinners and Dates
The entire atmosphere of the space changed after sundown. As the space had only a few light the experience became intimate. Adding a few tables, carpet and a few pillow this space became ideal for having dinner with a small group of people. We would also enjoy movies and play games here.
We also added small rice lights (fairy-lights) to add to the space. This was in my ways a make-shift restaurant experience during the lockdown days.
05
DRAWING 5: A SMALL, QUTIE SIT-OUT FOR DINNERS, MOVIES AND FRIENDS.
Solace in a space
Due to the Universities being closed in the pandemic, our homes were the new university. Adapting to this new environment was different for each of us.
The Balcony helped me out through this. Adding a small table fan, there was a small study nook created under the staircase. Among the plants and at the comfort of home this became an ideal spot. Often the cats would climb till the balcony and join in my studies but my parents never found about this new study space. This gave a hint of freedom from being at home during university years.
06
DRAWING 6: A REFUGE FOR STUDYING AWAY FROM THE NOISE INSIDE THE HOUSE.
Neel Naregal
Email : neelnaregal@gmail.com
Contact : +91 9825168108
Instagram : @nnaregal
