Revolutionary Floating Balconies Can Be Attached and Removed in Minutes
A revolutionary era has begun in the world of architecture for apartment dwellers living in city centers but yearning for the outdoors. The 'Retrofit' technique, which has gone viral on social media with videos showing buildings being expanded in mid-air, now makes it possible to add balconies to old buildings without the need to relocate. This method, which has become a trend in the city of São Paulo in Brazil, enlarges the apartments outward without demolishing the existing structure.
The most captivating and practical aspect of this method is that families are not obliged to vacate their apartments during the construction period.
The system operates entirely from the outside in. Gigantic steel and metal structures, mounted on the facade, rise from the bottom up. The assembly stage progresses at a rapid pace, with the ability to ascend 15 to 20 floors in approximately a month. However, the entire process, including laying the foundation, bureaucratic permissions, and intricate craftsmanship, takes about a year.
In order to avoid disturbing the residents' comfort, the original wall and windows separating the living room from the new space are not demolished until the very last moment of construction. Homeowners watch the step-by-step construction of their balconies in mid-air from behind the glass in their living rooms. Even the demolition of the wall and its integration with the balcony is carried out from the outside.
Behind this creative surge stands the company BR Retrofit, established by Alberto Alves in 2012.
The story may sound familiar: Alves wanted to add a balcony to his apartment for barbecuing, but when he couldn't find anyone in the market to do the job, he rolled up his sleeves. By 2026, this idea had morphed into a global engineering trend of expanding buildings in mid-air with steel frames.
Although videos on social media might give the impression that a balcony can be added to any building, the technical and economic realities are quite restrictive. Experts point out that, for now, this solution is only feasible in high-end and luxury properties in select neighborhoods.
The primary reasons for this are as follows:
Immense Dimensions: The size of the added balconies varies between 35 to 90 square meters. This space exceeds even the total size of many compact apartments in today's metropolises.
Engineering Complexity: To support balconies that exceed a depth of 2.5 meters, colossal columns and new foundations that extend to the basement level are required. This implies a heavy and costly operation involving the use of cranes.
High Cost: The expansion cost fluctuates between 10,000 to 14,000 reals per square meter. This budget, which needs to be collected and distributed among the apartment residents, is not feasible for every building. However, in São Paulo's valuable districts, where the sales price per square meter surpasses 20,000 reals, this luxury investment significantly boosts the property value.
Transforming your dream of a balcony into reality doesn't merely hinge on finances; it also necessitates a serious process of legal and societal approval.
Although there's no specific legislation for this type of renovation, it's mandatory for buildings to comply with the minimum land distances (setback distance) stipulated in municipal laws. If a building is too close to the neighboring plot, extending the balcony becomes legally impossible.
Beyond the bureaucracy, the biggest challenge is gaining unanimous approval from apartment residents. Convincing neighbors and reaching a consensus for this massive project, which completely alters the building's exterior, reportedly takes an average of four years. Moreover, since the added space is registered to the property deed, homeowners' property taxes permanently increase. Despite all these restrictions, 'cantilevered balconies' are emerging as one of the most creative architectural solutions for the affluent who are reluctant to move from their beloved neighborhoods.
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