 of the buildings. Figure 1 illustrates how the different parameters affect the daylight of a side-lighted workspace [29].
Parameters influencing the daylight of side-lighted spaces (according to [29]).
Balconies and loggias have become a very common feature of prefabricated flats, and the inhabitants use them mainly for recreation and leisure. In terms of function, the loggia is comparable to a balcony. The differences are mainly in the degree of protection against atmospheric influences, which is higher for loggias. This fact is important not only from the point of view of construction protection but also from the point of view of user comfort. The disadvantages of the loggia compared to the balcony are worse view and less visual connection with the surrounding environment [30].
The balcony is a horizontal planar structure protruding from the perimeter wall in front of the building. It is accessible from inside of the building. At least part of the decisive supporting structure (cantilever plate, supporting cantilever beams) statically acts as a bracket, or the whole structure is suspended in front of the perimeter wall. The construction of the balcony is usually open-type on three sides. The loggia is a structure accessible from inside of the building. The horizontal support plate statically acts as a simple plate and is supported by vertical walls, columns, or through frames. It is usually bounded on three sides by walls [31].
However, when designing balconies and loggias, it is good to be aware of, for example, their influence on daylight. By designing a horizontal shading barrier such as a balcony panel above the window opening, the interior will be shaded, and thus the level of daylight in the room will be reduced and the quality of the indoor environment will be degraded. The brightness of the sky at the zenith is always higher than the brightness on the horizon. In the case of winter cloudy skies with dark terrain, this difference is threefold [32]. It follows from these facts that placing the balcony structure above the window opening means that the brightest part of the sky will be shaded and thus the largest source of daylight will be shaded. From the current knowledge, it can be said that the difference between dark-and light-painted loggia can be up to about 30% of the value of the daylight factor. However, this value does not apply in general and always depends on the overall geometry of the room and the external shading obstacles [33]. The information provided has been obtained from several contributions in the recent past.
The effect of the reflection of the façade on the outdoor microclimate can be seen in reference [34], where an Italian case study is presented in the journal Sustainable Cities and Society. Private outdoor spaces-balconies and loggias in Latvia-are the subject dealt with by book author J. Prikulis [35]. The issues concerning the design of loggia elements are addressed in reference [36] and those concerning balconies in reference [37]. On balconies, it is possible to use parapet masonry for the application of photoelectric cells [38]. Balconies affect thermal comfort [39], their glazing not only affects the perception of Parameters influencing the daylight of side-lighted spaces (according to [29]).
Balconies and loggias have become a very common feature of prefabricated flats, and the inhabitants use them mainly for recreation and leisure. In terms of function, the loggia is comparable to a balcony. The differences are mainly in the degree of protection against atmospheric influences, which is higher for loggias. This fact is important not only from the point of view of construction protection but also from the point of view of user comfort. The disadvantages of the loggia compared to the balcony are worse view and less visual connection with the surrounding environment [30].
The balcony is a horizontal planar structure protruding from the perimeter wall in front of the building. It is accessible from inside of the building. At least part of the decisive supporting structure (cantilever plate, supporting cantilever beams) statically acts as a bracket, or the whole structure is suspended in front of the perimeter wall. The construction of the balcony is usually open-type on three sides. The loggia is a structure accessible from inside of the building. The horizontal support plate statically acts as a simple plate and is supported by vertical walls, columns, or through frames. It is usually bounded on three sides by walls [31].
However, when designing balconies and loggias, it is good to be aware of, for example, their influence on daylight. By designing a horizontal shading barrier such as a balcony panel above the window opening, the interior will be shaded, and thus the level of daylight in the room will be reduced and the quality of the indoor environment will be degraded. The brightness of the sky at the zenith is always higher than the brightness on the horizon. In the case of winter cloudy skies with dark terrain, this difference is threefold [32]. It follows from these facts that placing the balcony structure above the window opening means that the brightest part of the sky will be shaded and thus the largest source of daylight will be shaded. From the current knowledge, it can be said that the difference between dark-and light-painted loggia can be up to about 30% of the value of the daylight factor. However, this value does not apply in general and always depends on the overall geometry of the room and the external shading obstacles [33]. The information provided has been obtained from several contributions in the recent past.
The effect of the reflection of the façade on the outdoor microclimate can be seen in reference [34], where an Italian case study is presented in the journal Sustainable Cities and Society. Private outdoor spaces-balconies and loggias in Latvia-are the subject dealt with by book author J. Prikulis [35]. The issues concerning the design of loggia elements are addressed in reference [36] and those concerning balconies in reference [37]. On balconies, it is possible to use parapet masonry for the application of photoelectric cells [38]. Balconies affect thermal comfort [39], their glazing not only affects the perception of daylight but also affects the thermal-humidity climate in flats in prefabricated buildings [40]. These glazed balconies act as passive greenhouse systems. Their potential use is reported in Poland, for example, reference [41]. An overall study of the impact of balconies on the quality of the environment in flats as well as the overall renovation of the building, taking into account the sustainability of construction in the BIM environment, was presented last year in the journal Sustainability [42]. In addition to balconies, as we present in this article, another option is the loggia through which it is possible to get access to the exterior. Balconies, loggias, and various thin-walled units in large, prefabricated buildings are described in reference [43]. Modifications (for example) of loggia extensions impact daylight and sunlight [44] as well as possible thermal bridges [45] or the overall airtightness of buildings [46]. Modifications of these structural elements, i.e., balconies and loggias, affect the impact of natural lighting, energy savings, and visual comfort. These aspects are being explored in collaboration in collective housing [47]. The latter is a case study in the context of existing Algerian buildings.
Some literary sources use dynamic metrics (daylight autonomy, useful daylight, etc.). They are based on local series of climate data because they are able to capture the peculiarities of the local climate, including daylight and seasonal changes in daylight. Such examples can be found in the evaluation of lighting conditions in Italy [48,49].
The method presented a practical procedure, which can be easily implemented in computer software, to derive lighting on the surfaces of urban canyons with balconies in sunny areas, allowing the designer to explore a number of options found in [50]. The development of this method is based on the division of an urban canyon into a series of interconnected structural elements for the purpose of lighting calculations using flow transmission equations.
In Slovakia, almost 70% of the total number of apartment buildings are built with panel technology. It can be said that, in such panel technologies, most apartments are equipped with balconies. Their service life is not high, so in the last period as well as in the present, a number of prefabricated houses are being reconstructed. During the reconstruction, the balconies are sometimes changed to loggias. This fact is also the subject of this paper. There are several repetitive flats on floors and sections in the housing estate Kosice II west (see Figure 2). Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 4 of 25 daylight but also affects the thermal-humidity climate in flats in prefabricated buildings [40]. These glazed balconies act as passive greenhouse systems. Their potential use is reported in Poland, for example, reference [41]. An overall study of the impact of balconies on the quality of the environment in flats as well as the overall renovation of the building, taking into account the sustainability of construction in the BIM environment, was presented last year in the journal Sustainability [42]. In addition to balconies, as we present in this article, another option is the loggia through which it is possible to get access to the exterior. Balconies, loggias, and various thin-walled units in large, prefabricated buildings are described in reference [43]. Modifications (for example) of loggia extensions impact daylight and sunlight [44] as well as possible thermal bridges [45] or the overall airtightness of buildings [46]. Modifications of these structural elements, i.e., balconies and loggias, affect the impact of natural lighting,