More and more people are living in towns and cities – but don't want to miss out on nature in the form of balconies or patios. So residents are still able to enjoy a certain amount of privacy outdoors even in densely populated areas, a sun shading system can often also offer visual privacy. For instance, customised awnings by Warema can be used to create individual outdoor spaces for almost year-round use as additional living areas.
According to the Statistical Yearbook for 2018, 77% of Germany's population live in densely or moderately densely populated areas, and the trend is rising. Young people in particular are drawn to towns and cities, where they want affordable accommodation with a patio or balcony. In Germany in 2017, around 57 million people had the good fortune to live somewhere that also had a balcony, loggia or patio (source: Statista). That's about 69% of the total population of Germany. Yet in towns and cities, where buildings are often positioned close together, the outdoor area frequently fails to offer the required privacy.
To turn the patio or balcony into a refuge, a place that offers security and comfort, the sun shading expert Warema recommends the use of awnings. Not only do they provide shade and protection against UV rays, but they also create a feeling of homeliness in the open air. With awnings of various sizes and formats, patios and balconies can be designed to make the outdoor space an additional living area.
Warema offers over 250 different fabric patterns for individual awnings to ensure they are the perfect match for the building façade and personal preferences. The entire fabric collection is available online at www.warema.com/collection, and can also be viewed as an example on a reference building. As well as the awnings, the company also offers fabrics for the balcony railings and patio side screens in matching or contrasting designs. With attractive outdoor furniture that combines the same comfort and elegant style as the furniture for the interior, the result is a new room for dining, working, playing and resting, or just chatting.
Safety in the shade of the awning
However, awnings can do much more than merely create a pleasant ambience and provide shade. In towns and cities in particular, they also contribute to well-being by providing visual privacy in apartments on higher floors. They shield against curious glances, and thereby provide a homely feeling. Terrea patio awnings can be fitted with an additional valance roller blind to offer privacy at the front. Perfora acrylic fabric offers an excellent view out and, thanks to the special perforation, prevents heat accumulation.
Terrea patio awnings also provide wind and visual privacy on the sides if vertical side awnings are attached to the wall. This means the occupants are unobserved and undisturbed. The Warema models can be controlled as preferred, either by a hand-held transmitter or by smartphone. Users can also programme the settings so the awning extends and retracts at specific times, protecting the interior from too much solar radiation.
Warema awnings can extend the open-air season to almost the entire year. Weather-proof fabric can also cope with the occasional light rain shower, so a pleasant gathering with friends needn't come to an abrupt halt at the first sign of rain. Dimmable LED strips are available to create atmospheric lighting in the evening. The resulting pleasantly cosy atmosphere encourages lingering outdoors even after the sun has set. Optional radiant heaters provide a beneficial warmth on cooler days.
Anyone who has failed to fully enjoy the ambience of their balcony or patio so far can easily rectify the situation with the right sun shading. Very little effort is required to create a cosy, fully utilisable open-air room that will soon become everyone's favourite spot.
