'We the Wild,' a 310 sqm installation inspired by Victoria's iconic southern coastline and designed by national planning, transport and landscape consultancy, Ratio Consultants, has received a gold medal, the Best Use of Plant Life and the Best in Show awards at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show this week.
The installation has been designed as an ecological micro-system, featuring a series of innovative indoor-outdoor spaces that translate rugged natural conditions into a contemporary residential setting. Created to demonstrate how compact spaces can deliver measurable environmental gains in dense cities, the design pairs eucalyptus canopies with granite boulders, evoking coastal landscapes shaped by salt, sand and deep geological time. The show garden took home a gold medal, the Horticultural Media Association Award for Best Use of Plant Life, and the City of Melbourne Award for Excellence – Best in Show.
Despite its modest size, its win at the Flower & Garden Show illustrates how small green spaces can work harder. With almost 70% of the site dedicated to softscape (living elements) and just over 30% to hardscape (structural materials), the garden is designed to help mitigate urban heat island effects.
Featuring 100% Australian native planting and full stormwater capture for on-site reuse, it fosters biodiversity, cools surrounding areas and creates essential habitats for local wildlife. Importantly, the entire garden will also be repurposed after the show, ensuring the installation continues to deliver environmental value beyond the event.
The garden was designed by award-winning landscape architect Matt York, who brings 25 years' experience across Australia, South-East Asia and Africa. Matt said that the result is an opportunity to make a case for more spaces across Victoria that work for people and deliver real benefits for the surrounding natural world.
While the design draws on wild coastal landscapes, it ultimately translates these qualities into a format suited to contemporary homes. We the Wild showcases how residential gardens can become active contributors to healthier urban ecosystems, strengthening habitat links and supporting greener neighbourhoods.
"We are thrilled to receive the gold medal and best in show award at this year's Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Our ambition is to shape cities and environments for a better future. We the Wild shows how small gardens can contribute to that, as a pollinator, a biodiverse urban cooler, and a space for health and mental wellbeing. It's always great to be part of a show with so many talented teams – on behalf of Ratio, congratulations to everyone who participated this weekend."
For Ratio, presenting We the Wild is an opportunity to acknowledge Country and celebrate Melbourne's local economy. Every element of the garden, from plants and stonework to furniture, has been sourced through local partners and suppliers, rooting the installation in local people and place.
We the Wild Sustainability Performance Metrics:
Almost 70% of the site is dedicated to softscape (living, organic elements), with the remaining 30.1% allocated to hardscape (non-living, structural materials) to help mitigate urban heat island effects.
The design aligns with Green Star principles and is consistent with a 6 Star benchmark for healthy, resilient and positive development.
The planting palette is 100% Australian native species.
The garden achieves 100% stormwater capture for on-site re-use.
All timber used in the garden is 100% recycled.
Mature tree canopy delivers 47% canopy coverage across the site.
The garden promotes biodiversity net gain and is designed to increase visitation from local pollinators, including native stingless bees, blue-banded bees and European honey bees.
The entire garden will be re-purposed after the show, ensuring the installation is not wasted.
About us:
Ratio Consultants
Ratio is a national consultancy for planning, transport, urban design, waste, landscape and civil. Our team of 100 experts bring a diverse range of liveable and sustainable projects to life across Australia.
