apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

very cool idea..i wonder about leaks and drafts.

It is an awesome concept, however, sitting/standing on the glass that becomes the floor of the balcony would make me aprehensive.

apprehensive*

sorry, i just could not let my mistake go!

What an amazing view you'll have of the pavement 26 stories below you'll be splattering against when the unit pulls away from the wall after a shoddy mounting job and hurls itself, a lounger and you to the ground at 120 miles an hour

Yikes. Never for me. Too scary. But what about a teeny one for cats?

This reminds me of the Velux Cabrio balcony roof window which becomes a sort of pseudo-balcony where a dormer ordinarily might be:

http://www.veluxusa.com/products/residentialSkylights/roofWindows/balcony/

"...however, sitting/standing on the glass that becomes the floor of the balcony would make me apprehensive."

If you notice from the pic - the section that becomes the balcony floor can be steel rather than glass.

"i wonder about leaks and drafts."

Do you wonder about leaks and drafts from the doors and windows in your home? What would be the difference?

I can't help but notice that our lovely model seems to be wearing a miniskirt while hanging out on the glass-bottom balcony.

So, a very appealing product for society's exhibitionist niche?

Genuine question: what is the benefit of a fold-away balcony? As opposed to one that stays put?

There should be an option where the bottom is not glass.
It seems just a bit messy when you leave it open like that, it starts raining, you close it up and end up having a dirty wall in your living room.
Still a quite decent idea. It will be nice to see it in actual use and to hear how it's working out.

Umm she's not sitting on the glass...she is sitting on the metal (I am guessing Steel) wall (that is under the glass when the window is shut) that becomes the floor of the balcony...when opened.

I Love it! Instant upgrades!!!

Ooops you are right I just clicked on the pics and see there is another version, where it IS all glass. Yikes. I'd go with the metal, especiaally since I like to drink my morning coffee in my micro-mini! ;-)

Ditto to mildred. And no way to close the door while you're out on the 3-4 ft wide "balcony." Better live in a perfect climate with no bugs or pollution or noise and no need of heat or AC.

Some buildings weren't made with balconies. Some condo's in the US do not let you alter the buliding...but when I was in Europe on any giving condo building the individual apts, had different setups...eg on a balcony buliding some people enclosed it with screening some enclosed it with glass.

All I am saying is the condo commandos do not seem to rule as much in Europe. Possibly people in buildings that do not have balconies at all, can upgrade their condo's with this goodie.

it seems like a very cool clever idea. And maybe I'm seeing it differently, but it looks like you're standing on the solid part when it's extended. since it wouldn't be out in the elements all the time, I imagine that it wouldn't have to be as durable and therefore cheaper.

I think this is a great concept, but I would still prefer a permanent balcony, then you could leave things out on it... like furniture.

I know I should be logical and accept this as a design achievement... but I'm imagining unlikely engineering failures and freaking out a bit.

Available from Hurks?

How about a link?

seems like a smart retrofit option.

Very innovative!