EDGE - A Visual Exploration of Balcony Culture of Istanbul

Balconies are liminal spaces lying at the edge where private life encounters public life. They are private spaces but also allow insight into the outside world. Balconies have been an architectural staple for thousands of years and their roles have evolved to adapt to local cultures and customs over the centuries. With the advent of technologies such as television and smartphones, people forgot the importance of balconies. However, the recent pandemic brought newfound cultural importance to the balconies. In months of quarantine, balconies reminded people of the importance to look outside and connect with something bigger than themselves. The pandemic allowed the balconies to be considered in terms of spatial rights during the epidemic, the balcony appears as a small but symbolic indicator of inequalities. The balconies that are part of the right to housing need to be handled more comprehensively.This book is a visual exploration of the balcony culture of Istanbul city and delves into different neighborhoods of the city.