Introduction

From time immemorial, outdoor spaces have been essential parts of a house. Three hundred years ago, the most privileged spent much of their free time strolling through the gardens on their property, and they gave high priority to enjoying the outdoors as a way to improve health.

Today, most homes have outdoor spaces that their owners can use for the activities they find most agreeable and interesting, including barbecues, enjoying a pool or a hot tub, sunbathing, eating, or playing and chatting late into the night. The inhabitants of houses decorate and fit out outdoor areas to meet their particular needs. It is also increasingly common in large cities for skyscrapers to be topped by spectacular roof gardens or adorned with balconies that can be used to escape and forget the hustle and bustle of the metropolis and that add greenery to a gray horizon.

Few spaces in a home are more usable and rewarding than those that allow us to enjoy the outdoors, especially if the temperature is pleasant. It was for this reason that we decided to prepare a book on terraces, patios, and balconies, to take inspiration from the latest trends and learn to apply them to our own outdoor spaces by tailoring them to our preferences and means.