Cirrus West. Belconnen, Canberra
Balcony Size: 12m²
Price guide: <$25,000
Installation time: 2 days.
This balcony garden was designed as a seamless extension of the client’s apartment—an interior defined by a rich material palette. The intent with the garden design was to create harmony between inside and out, without adding more complexity or any new elements to an already complete material palette.
​With a modestly sized but regularly used balcony, the garden was designed to be slim—just enough to frame the space without obstructing movement. It’s a subtle intervention that supports daily use rather than competing with it.​
Before: Cluttered.
After: Cohesive design.
Prefabricated in our workshop.
​Corten steel was selected for the planter—a material with patina & visual depth that echoes the tones in the apartment’s finishes. Rather than introducing contrast, we focused on continuation. The garden incorporates a collection of rustic objects the client had gathered over time: a lava rock-glazed pot, a weathered mirror, and carved wooden sculptures. These were given importance within the design, incorporating personal memory into the garden.
The planting is restrained and structural. A Japanese maple anchors the composition. Chosen for its seasonal shifts and sculptural silhouette. Supported by soft grasses, herbs, and low-maintenance perennials. The goal was to add a fine layer of enclosure in the foreground without interrupting the expansive view toward the park and water below.
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Lighting plays a quiet but powerful role. A brushed brass spike light was positioned to highlight a lichen-covered rock. Up lights were installed at the base of the wooden sculptures, offering focal moments after dark. The lighting is hard-wired to an interior switch, giving the client full control over the mood and use of the balcony at night.
