Rethinking urban living: The role of acoustic balcony glazing in inner-city high-rise living

Urban noise can restrict the use of balconies and indoor spaces. When balconies and windows are located near sources of noise, they may go underused, reducing fresh air ventilation and residents’ connection with the outdoors. 

Justin Spires, technical lead at Solarlux, explains how their glazed balconies help address urban noise: “Our high-rise balcony glazing and suspended balcony facades are designed to combat noise pollution effectively. The high degree of prefabrication ensures precise assembly, tight seals and consistent quality, allowing these balconies to create quiet, comfortable outdoor spaces, even in the busiest or loudest city environments.”

He also notes that glazed balconies can reduce interior noise levels: “The balcony space can serve as a buffer, reducing the transmission of sound into the home and enhancing the acoustic comfort of interior spaces.”

At the Skytower development in Stuttgart, Germany, noise reduction was a key concern for the building owners. Positioned above busy urban streets, the high-rise apartments required glazed balconies that would provide weather protection while allowing residents to fully utilise the indoor/outdoor space without the constant intrusion of traffic and city noise.

The Solarlux SL 25 frameless slide-and-turn system was chosen for the project, due to its flexibility, acoustic performance and aesthetics. The frameless design provided transparent weather protection, preserving daylighting and the open-air feel of the balconies, while also reducing noise from outside. The result is an outdoor space that can be enjoyed year-round, along with quieter, more comfortable interiors that support healthier high-rise living.

While we may be focusing on noise, we can’t overlook the challenge of overheating and its relationship to high-rise balcony glazing. While large amounts of glazing have been used in high-rise flats to give residents a sense of space and openness, summer heatwaves are on the rise, and the solar gain from those swathes of glass is making some properties uncomfortable for days or weeks at a time. Research from the Met Office shows that the number of days with temperatures above 30°C has more than tripled in the last decade, and that trend is expected to continue. 

High-rise apartments, particularly those with south- and west-facing elevations, are especially vulnerable to overheating. Matharu explains: “The growing risk of overheating in homes prompted the introduction of Approved Document O (Overheating) and revisions to Approved Document F (Ventilation) in June 2022, placing greater emphasis on passive cooling measures, controlled solar gain and natural ventilation.” Approved Document O recognises that noise and pollution can limit the use of open windows in dense urban areas, so carefully designed glazing and balcony systems are critical for ensuring both comfort and compliance. 

“At Solarlux, we can address these challenges through a combination of ventilated balcony systems and advanced glass treatments,” she adds. “Moveable panels and integrated ventilation allow for controlled airflow, enabling passive cooling without compromising acoustic protection. In addition, solar-control or low-emissivity (low-E) glass can be specified to reduce solar gain by reflecting or absorbing a portion of the incoming heat while maintaining natural daylight and views,” she explains.

For architects and specifiers, acoustic balcony glazing can help shape the quality of urban living. Effective specification of inner-city glazing solutions requires balancing sound reduction with weather resistance, thermal comfort, ventilation and aesthetics.

Spires points out that “Solarlux noise-reducing balcony systems can reduce intrusive city noise by 20–30 dB.” With a typical city street measuring around 70–75 dB, this level of sound reduction reduces the noise level from outside to 40–45 dB – roughly the volume of a quiet conversation. “The acoustic performance of our glazed balconies has been verified with independent laboratory testing in accordance with BS EN ISO 10140-2 and BS EN ISO 717-1,” he adds.

Solarlux glazed balcony systems also support thermal comfort, passive ventilation and solar control in line with Approved Documents L, F and O. We offer bespoke options for glazing types, opening mechanisms and integration into balcony structures, with units that can be prefabricated or assembled on-site. This flexibility helps support compliance, enhances comfort and demonstrates how acoustic balcony glazing can create more desirable inner-city homes.