This urban balcony garden thrives in dry conditions
No water? No worries! Create an outdoor oasis with sculptural, sun-tolerant plants and a neutral palette
The bones of this balcony, on the top floor of a new SJB-designed apartment block, were beautiful, but landscape designer Adam Robinsion faced a few challenges in this makeover. Located in inner-Sydney Waterloo, the exposed location meant that plant options were limited. “It’s hot for most of the day, and as the tiles were already down when I arrived, I couldn’t get irrigation to any of the plant pots,” he says.
To work within these constraints, and also deliver on the client’s brief for “an elegant and sophisticated space that would effortlessly flow from the interior to outside”, as well as a space to entertain family and friends, Adam opted for plants renowned for their hardiness and ability to flourish without irrigation.
“This is not a flowering garden,” he says, “but instead an area of textures and plant forms. I like mixing plant textures up – for example, the contemporary cactus which is underpinned with traditional rosemary.” Other plant choices include Crassula ovata,
Dichondra ‘ Silver Falls’, Kalanchoe beharensis and a young buxus ball.
To ensure this space is as functional as it is inviting, Adam selected a neutral ‘Lucy’ corner sofa from Vincent Sheppard and coffffee table from the ‘Tidal’ collection at Tait. The ‘Jil’ dining table and ‘Tidal’ chairs are also from Tait.
See Adam’s work at adamrobinsondesign.com.