Healing properties of residential balcony: Assessment of the characteristics of balcony space in Shanghai's collective housing

The balcony is open, connected with the outside, and close to nature, which can provide sunshine, air, vision, leisure, and social functions, bring a variety of health benefits, and gradually become a healing space in modern family life. However, current research lacks a systematic knowledge of the healing properties of balcony space features. The purpose of this paper is to determine the healing performance of balcony space characteristics of urban collective housing and its correlation with healing and to provide a theoretical basis for the design and optimization of residential balconies. Firstly, based on the literature review, the main spatial characteristics of a balcony and its healing index are determined. Then, based on the review results, a spatial assessment and analysis framework for a residential floor plan is developed. A combined qualitative and quantitative approach was used to assess the healing of balcony space characteristics of 1641 housing types in Shanghai. The results show that the healing of the balcony is at a low level, which has great potential for improvement. The spatial characteristics that affect the healing assessment mainly include structural type, connection mode, area, vision, and furniture. It was found that the spatial characteristics of balconies have interrelated and interacting role relationships that directly or indirectly affect the healing performance of balconies. This study provides a valuable reference for the renovation and design of residential balconies, helps to provide targeted design suggestions for real estate development departments and designers, and helps to improve the quality of living and the health and well-being of residents.