Most real estate brochures proudly showcase a specific feature: the gourmet balcony. Have you ever stopped to think that perhaps these spaces, typically equipped with a barbecue grill, say more about real estate speculation than about the actual barbecue culture in Brazil?
In a video on his channel, researcher Atila Iamarino argues that gourmet balconies—usually associated with rising property values—did not become popular because buyers wanted them; on the contrary, people only began to desire them after they became a standard feature in high-rise construction.
To support his argument, Iamarino traces the history of São Paulo's Master Plan. A municipal law passed in 2002 altered the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and how built area is calculated. Following this change, recreational spaces and balconies were no longer counted as chargeable built area. This shift directly influenced the floor area ratio and the potential expansion of property sizes, leading developers to add barbecue grills to balconies to justify larger outdoor spaces.
