# Home Balconies during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Future Architect's Preferences in Lisbon and Warsaw
## 4 Discussion
Other authors already mention the importance of size, stating that balconies with more than 3 m\({}^{2}\) increase users' satisfaction level [44], and shape/ratio, as an essential feature since rectangular and narrow balconies are considered non-functional and sparsely used [32; 43], restricting social and gathering activities [11; 46]. On the connectivity level, the authors observed a similar pattern with [PERSON] and [PERSON]'s [42] study in Cairo. In both cases, respondents opt to connect the balcony with the living room and the bedroom. Nevertheless, the present study results show that the tendency to select the living room is higher than in the Cairo case (choose a connection with the living room and the reception). Finally, the KI preferences for a balcony oriented toward the sun (first place) and facing a garden or a waterfront (first and second place) also find echoes in literature, as stated by [PERSON] et al. [45] related to balcony views, and [PERSON] et al. [28] concerning the physical and mental health benefits of nature views. From the lens of an architect, this space with an unspecified function needs to be updated to address the spatial demand of the highest-ranked activities with new qualitative design standards ready to be used all year round, as recommended by [PERSON] et al. [39] even before the pandemic. In this way, it appears that home balconies must be updated to address these \"new\" requirements regardless of the dwelling size or price. Otherwise, balcony spaces may become obsolete, underused, and fail to add value to the property and to the overall life quality of its users [7; 12]. The study results allow for understanding the preferences of Lisboners and Varsovians concerning the role of balconies' architectural features and activities during the COVID-19 period. The study contributes, first, to understanding the newly established paradigm reinforcing that people's perception and importance of balconies changed during the pandemic. Second, the deprivation of outdoor space due to a health emergency has a psychological impact that overrides any cultural, geographical, and climatic differences, as both locations displayed similar results in the survey. Third, it illustrates a set of preferences that the architect/designer should consider when designing or retrofitting a balcony. These reflect and respond to the current users' needs framed by the perspective of future architects and house owners. Our ranking system approach informs the designer where to focus, in other words, on features with a higher rating preference, relegating to second-place features with a lower ranking. Finally, in the long run, the authors intend to develop an online and open-source balcony assessment tool, calibrated according to the site-specific context, that can guide design decisions, evaluate real-estate assets, or assist public and private stakeholders in policy development. The present study brings novelty to this field as it inquiries about architectural and design-related questions in the domains of aesthetics (e.g., finishing materials, surface colours, and greenery), orientation, and thermal and acoustic comfort, which are rarely mentioned by other related studies. Additionally, it compares two different geographical contexts during a pandemic which has never been conducted before on this specific subject. However, as future concerns, there is a demand for more studies, mainly from the moment when the WHO announces the end of the pandemic, to verify whether this paradigm persists or changes again.