Small Space, Big Ideas – Our Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show Balcony Garden
We were thrilled to debut our first Balcony Garden at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show—and even more excited to take out Second Place in the competition!
Our design set out to prove what’s possible in compact urban spaces, combining sustainability, functionality and beauty in a garden that fits perfectly on an inner-city balcony. We received an overwhelming response throughout the week, especially from visitors keen to know more about our custom corten steel green wall system.
The Balcony Garden Design
Our balcony garden was thoughtfully crafted to demonstrate how layered design can transform small spaces.
Key features included:
- Modular Vertical Garden System: Made from custom corten steel troughs, the vertical garden acts as a stunning living wall and privacy screen. Each module is lightweight, soil-filled and designed for on-site assembly—ideal for apartments and balconies.
- Aquaculture Water Feature: Our corten steel pond is more than decorative. It’s home to fish whose waste provides nutrients for the plants, while the plants help filter and purify the water in return—creating a closed-loop ecosystem.
- Integrated Irrigation: The vertical garden includes a fully automated drip-line irrigation system. Water is pumped from a hidden reservoir at the base, delivered to each planter trough.
- Locally sourced Castlemaine slate paving: chosen for its natural texture and earthy tone, grounding the space in organic warmth
- Timber table and bench seat: adding warmth and contrast to the steel and stone, while enhancing the overall tactile and inviting quality of the garden
- Plant Palette: Our lush planting selection was chosen for texture, contrast, and resilience in small spaces. Feature species included Ravenae glauca (Madagascan Palm), Philodendron ‘Xanadu’, Fatsia japonica, Platycerium bifurcatum (Staghorn Fern), Lomandra longifolia and Senecio radicans (String of Bananas), among others.
- Sculptural Elements: A standalone corten steel planter with an established tree fern added vertical interest and anchored the space with greenery and height.
Looking Ahead
We loved being part of MIFGS and showcasing our passion for creating refined, green, and liveable outdoor spaces—even when space is limited. At Sharp Landscape Creations, we believe small-scale gardens can still deliver big impact—and we’re proud to help Melbourne homes become greener, one balcony at a time. Our service area covers Melbourne’s Inner, Eastern,North Eastern, South Eastern suburbs, Bayside and Mornington.
If you’re ready to reimagine your own courtyard, balcony or compact outdoor space, Contact us or explore our Apartments, Courtyards & Balcony Gardens page for more.