A Safe Haven in the Sky: Fire-Resistant Elegance in Belgravia
How collaboration and compliance transformed a London balcony into a stylish retreat
Nestled in one of London’s most exclusive postcodes, a private balcony in Belgravia has been transformed into a serene, high-rise retreat that effortlessly blends safety with style. This elegant outdoor space is the result of close collaboration between Europlanters—specifically estimator Chris—and garden designer Jan Eliades of Celia Garden Design. Together, they achieved a finely tuned balance between the technical demands of fire safety and the aesthetic expectations of luxury living.
Designing for Safety—and Beauty
In a modern urban landscape where stringent building regulations are increasingly shaping architectural decisions, this project highlights how thoughtful design can still flourish within strict parameters. One of the primary challenges of the Belgravia balcony was compliance with the building’s fire safety requirements—particularly the use of fire-resistant materials throughout the installation.
To this end, Europlanters manufactured all planters and benches using Fire-Resistant Resin, ensuring full compliance without compromising on visual impact. Around the balcony perimeter, metal screening was laser-cut to reflect a bespoke design—a geometric motif that echoed a blind inside the apartment. These screens were coupled with GRP planters housing fire-resistant artificial hedging, creating both privacy and lush greenery while satisfying all safety protocols.
Sprayed in RAL 7048, a soft metallic grey, the planters and screens harmonise with the building façade, offering a sophisticated, urban finish. The intricate triangular cut-outs in the screens cast dynamic shadows as the sunlight passes through—turning a regulatory feature into a standout architectural element.
Multifunctionality and Movement
Functionality was central to the design brief, particularly as the balcony serves as both a social and contemplative space. A run of fire-resistant resin benches with GRP timber-effect seating provides not just comfort, but also hidden storage, seamlessly integrated in front of the screening to double as dining seating.
Meanwhile, standalone GRP planters on hidden casters were added around the balcony, offering both flexibility and easy access for building maintenance. Finished in bronze effect, these mobile planters complement the surrounding palette while enhancing the versatility of the layout—ideal for an urban space that needs to adapt to different uses throughout the day or year.
A thoughtful addition was a custom-made plinth to display a prized bonsai tree, proving that bespoke solutions can elevate even the smallest design details into striking focal points.
