Well, I think that it's a good Idea but... I wouldn't like to be the one living upstairs!
Someone told me a story about some guy in France who actually lit a BBQ at his place and within minuts the firefighters were breaking in!

Be careful!

Grilling is a great cooking technique, but if you only have room for this thing you're probably better to pass. It seems like it combines an awkward narrow cooking surface, with the possibility of spilling smouldering charcoal on your downstairs neighbours while sending billowing clouds of soot into your upstairs neighbours place.

This contraption looks utterly dangerous. And not very good for its intended purpose, for that matter.

You're much better off with a small kettle if you can get away with it in your building. Here in Chicago, lots of people who can't use grills where they live pack up a little grill and haul it to the beach or the park and just make a day of it, cooking and hanging out.

As a city dweller and experienced "balcony griller", I must say this looks a bit silly. You could get the same amount of surface grilling area with a Smokey Joe grill (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=1146797), with the added benefit of stable legs (and a lid!)

Well I live in NYC and I think its perfect for 90% of the people here who live in small buildings and can't have a normal sized grill. I would buy it.

The fire dept. here will fine you $500 for having a grill on your apt. porch and you'll be potentially evicted. My porch is too narrow anyway and too cluttered up with plants to grill safely.

I prefer just to gather up friends and drive to a nearby park at the lake to grill and swim.

I find it fascinating how an industrial design student work has generated so many posts in the blog sphere. This is a good idea on paper. It looks cool but I think this grill is not a commercially viable product.

The picture of the grill in use is not realistic. Charcoal cooking makes smoke and smells. On of my neighbors on top of me (the next house, 3 floors up from where I live) use a charcoal to cook and I am glad to not live closer to him. I am worry that someone does not attach the grill properly. Beside that, insurance companies will dispute fire claims from the Bruce charcoal.

This was a hot or not on ATLA, too!
http://la.apartmenttherapy.com/la/hot-or-not/hot-or-not-017495

Emily - yes, and it's really interesting to look at more design-oriented readers' response versus those of you over here at the Kitchen. Here it's almost 50% NOT - over there it was almost unanimously HOT.

Wonder why that is?

Grills designed for boats are probably going to work about the same if not better and clamp very securely on to a railing.

This product in a sense is a great idea but has a serious flaw, which is safety. It's great in ideation because it changes the traditional grill to be portable and storable.

I personally would not manufacture or buy this until safety is addressed. I don't believe the grill will fly over the balcony but I believe the hot food and oil will, if your not an experienced chef like me. I purpose a non-flammable plexi-glass adhered to the back of the grill to prevent flying food mishaps.