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I admit. This is an entirely selfish post. I am an urban dweller with a balcony and am in the process of redesigning it to get even more out of it. Hopefully, despite its tiny nature, the balcony can become a relaxing space, a work spot, an outdoor gym and a TV room. I also occasionally would like to walk out and feel grass under my feet. That makes quite a tall order so the hunt for ideas is on! The challenge is trickier than I thought. Though new designs for gardens and large spaces have flooded the market, balconies still lag behind in the revolution.
Fortunately as part of my job, I am coincidentally a jury member on a contest that may help me find the holly grail!
Garden Unique is a new premium outdoor section of spoga+gafa opening in September in Cologne, Germany. As part of the show, they are organizing a creative contest. Designers, young or established are asked to come up with fresh ideas for that very precious space: the balcony. The contest is open for another 14 days. The reward is 12,000 euros and an introduction to manufacturers.
Amongst the ideas already up for votes is a very cool idea of how to add grass in a realistic and stylish way. Like many fellow apartment owners, I dream about having coffee outside with my feet on a mini patch of lawn!
I was doomed to love this design: the Grass Mosaic.
From the designer:
It is a very flexible system of shallow pots made of acrylic stone or similar material. They can be filled with prefabricated lawn grass or with wooden panels. The bottom of the pots allow water fluctuation. They can be arranged freely, walking paths can be dominated by wooden bits while corners can be fully grass. One can design ones own pattern.
If you have clever ideas to make the most of tiny spaces please take part and submit ideas too!
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6 Comments
SteveDenver on 06.01.2011 at 09:14 AM
Yes, this is brilliant and stunning! A 10-year international study on low income housing conducted from 1972–1982 found that access to the outdoors, no matter how small and not contingent on whether it was used or not, gave dwellers in high-density high-rises an increased sense of well-being and residential satisfaction.
jacquelyn | lark + linen on 06.01.2011 at 12:19 PM
This is a really wonderful idea. What a pretty way to bring a little green to generally cold and neglected space
WP on 06.01.2011 at 21:01 PM
This sounds great! I’d love to have one of those pots on my balcony…
Joshua Norman on 06.02.2011 at 06:55 AM
This is really great. It seems like there may be a way to use this to move or angle plants and grass to get light, follow the sun beams if you will. Could be great for urban folks that have heavy shadows to deal with…
Tom and Liz on 06.02.2011 at 08:17 AM
The flexibility of layout and materials is fantastic.
mmm now youve got me thinking!
Jessica on 06.04.2011 at 04:00 AM
This is the most fascinating and ingenious idea in forward thinking natural patio flooring I have seen so far in my year and a half of research! I too am in the process of designing my double wide Miami Beach balcony. I have a million dollar view and a blank canvas that deserves the most fabulous decor. I have to start with the floor before I can do anything else. If I only had just plain concrete I wouldn’t have such a problem but this floor is in the worst condition! The The previous dwellers must have laid down carpet or astro turf and then it was ripped up before we moved in and just left like that. I can still see little fibers on the floor and there is still a layer of something covering the concrete and I can’t or won’t put an expensive outdoor wicker set I out here until I fix the floor. It rains a lot here, especially in the summer so I would never even consider putting down another carpet. I cant lay tile either because we rent and because it is so large so it would be pretty expensive. I have a very specific look in mind of an ultra modern minimal chic Miami style design with a cool wicker resin couch, chaise, tables ect… and dining set with a modern solar fountain and half zen garden retreat with polished river rock mats and lots of plants and flowers and lemon trees in over sized planters ect… I have a lot of work a head of me and it has to start with the perfect flooring!
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