Il balcone nell’architettura romana della piena Età imperiale. Una soluzione ricorrente nella progettazione della città

The essay examines the presence and evolution of the balcony in Roman architecture during the High Imperial period, highlighting its role as a connecting element between imperial and non-imperial building practices. Through the analysis of remains from Herculaneum, Ostia, Rome, and Hadrian’s Villa, three main constructional typologies are identified – those supported by wooden brackets, by concrete semi-vaults, and by travertine corbels with supporting arches – which reveal a recurring and functional design practice. The study shows that the balcony, far from being a marginal detail, serves as a demonstration of ancient freedom of composition and structural rationality, anticipating modern spatial concepts and offering a key to understanding the aesthetics of Roman architecture.