Journal of the Korean Housing Association ISSN:2234-3571(Print) 2234-2257(Online) 한국주거학회논문집

The apartment balcony is the only space that connects the inside and outside of the house, but it is often used to increase the usable area in Korean apartments. The purpose of this study is to identify changes in residents’ perception and use of balcony space before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 targeting apartment residents. To this end, big data analysis using social network data and a survey of apartment residents were conducted. The results are as follows. 1) When compared to before COVID-19, many words related to nature and new activities were being searched after the outbreak. 2) In terms of the balcony functions before and after COVID-19, storage and utility functions, which were typical roles of balconies, are relatively reduced after COVID-19. On the other side, the ratio of natural contact functions, indoor environment control functions, and living space functions increased. 3) A comparative analysis on the frequency of balcony use before and after the COVID-19 showed increases in the frequency of use for all types of balconies, and the statistical significance of these changes was confirmed. Since the demands for the original function of balconies are increasing after COVID-19, it is necessary to consider the various activities and contact with nature in designing apartment balconies.