By Bridget Perdomo
Barcelona is home to some of the world's most famous and jaw dropping architecture, from La Sagrada Familia to Park Guell and Gaudi’s house, this vibrant city is full of the most revolutionary structures. But the architectural structure that has shaped this city’s culture the most are the dainty and colorful balconies that fill the building’s sides. Whether locals or vacationers, balconies play a crucial role in people’s lives in Barcelona. Although Barcelona’s charming little balconies may go unnoticed compared to Guadi’s extravagant designs, it is where the Spanish lifestyle and essence shines through the most.
The balconies of Barcelona allow owners to shut the world in and out, and give them a space to engage with their neighbors and their city. Balconies in Barcelona serve as the backdrop to the owner's personal stories and histories. It’s a local’s backyard, it’s a visitor’s outlook, it’s a garden, it’s a laundromat, it’s a means to display your values and beliefs throughout the city. Echoes of laughs, barks, and babies cries, all fill the streets of Barcelona from these balconies to give you a little glimpse into the lives of these strangers.
Frida Milan, a European backpacker from Mexico City, expresses how she felt the first time she visited Barcelona and took notice of these local “backyards.”
“I was walking through a busy part of the city, and I stopped for a second to just take in all of my surroundings,” said Frida. “I saw an old Spaniard watching the streets from her balcony, I saw three boys fighting over a game of cards, and I saw a man attaching his laundry to a clothes line that hung right off the edge of his building.”
Frida went on to reveal the impact these little balconies had on her experience in Barcelona. She felt most connected to Spaniards and their culture from either her own balcony, or the balconies of strangers that lined the streets.
As you walk through the streets of Barcelona and look around at the different buildings that surround you, you’ll begin to notice how not one is exactly like the other. Each balcony, depending on its owner, is serving a different purpose. Balconies are so important for the day-to-day lives of Spaniards and visitors.
There are so many different functions a balcony can serve for its owner. Almost every window in Barcelona is open to allow the airflow of trade winds to enter, which is why balcony doors make a big difference in the ventilation of these apartments.
Diego Castro, a student studying abroad in Barcelona this summer, tells of the time he was incredibly grateful that he got a bedroom with an attached balcony.
“It was my first week in Barcelona and it was starting to get really hot outside as the summer approached,” said Diego. “The air conditioning in my entire apartment was not functioning, so having the constant cool breeze enter my room through those big double doors was a game changer.”
Balconies also serve as a clothing dryer because of all the fresh air and sunlight they are exposed to. Walking through the streets, you’ll see all different types of clothing hanging off of clothes lines or drying racks. In Barcelona, many apartments do not own a clothing dryer and solely rely on their balconies to dry these clothes.
For study abroad student Daryn Morffy, this was the biggest culture shock of arriving in Barcelona. He expressed how he had to adapt to a lifestyle change he was not prepared for.
“When I got to Barcelona I wasn’t expecting my apartment to only have a washer,” said Daryn. “It was a bit difficult to get used to at first but I loved how serious Spaniards took conserving energy.”
Conserving energy is a key characteristic in the lifestyle of Spaniards and their culture. This is what makes owning a balcony so important for those without air conditioners and dryers who are trying to be more environmentally and economically conscious.
Balconies have been a crucial feature in Barcelona's construction designs since first appearing in the 16th century. In the 16th century, balconies were typically reserved to the upper class and were a means to show off people’s status and money, according to Anton Espadaler, the author of Barcelona’s Balconies: A Private Space Open To the Public (published in 2007 by the Ajuntament).
However, the idea of a balcony as a means to display one’s status was replaced in the 18th and 19th century by the idea that good health needed to become a priority.
Balconies were an
important function in boosting health and many people believed that every citizen deserved one.
Now, balconies fill the streets of Barcelona for several purposes. However, citizens primarily enjoy their time on balconies for entertainment and relaxation. These balconies are constantly filled with people–young or old–sitting and watching the busy streets below them.
You will see people hosting dinner parties, drinking their morning coffee, tending to their garden, or just sitting and laughing with friends on their little balconies. And for city dogs, this is their backyard. Dogs can always be seen lounging across a balcony or barking at the chaotic streets underneath them.
Spaniards love to express their interests and personalities through their balconies. Their balconies are like a little piece of who they are and what they value. Whether it be overflowing with trees and plants, or filled with empty wine glasses and cigarette butts, the Spanish make sure their balconies are telling a story.
Now, walking through the streets one may take notice of all the flags that are being displayed outside of people’s balconies. This is not something that is relatively new to Spanish culture, however, it has become more and more relevant given the political state in Barcelona. Spaniards use their balconies as a means to express their political opinions through hanging specific flags with different meanings.
No matter what function a balcony in Barcelona is serving, it is one of the most culturally rich pieces of architectural design this city has to offer. Balconies are a little glimpse into the lives of those around you. They can act as a storybook if you take the time to call attention to them. As you walk through the streets of Barcelona, stop and look up at the stories and lives that are spilling out right in front of you.
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