The Garden Design Process
Initial meetings and questions
The design process begins with an initial client meeting to discuss the project requirements and to form a ‘client brief’. This can be a brief meeting or an in depth discussion to determine your ‘needs’ ‘musts’ ‘desires’ all depending on the level of detail your project requires? A second meeting is often arranged to go through preliminary ideas and concepts.
TIP It is useful to collect images or photos of gardens and features you like. This will assist us in interpreting your thoughts and understanding your ideas.
Site survey
Depending on the complexity of the site an outline pencil and paper survey can be carried out on our first visit, alternatively a full CAD survey provided at a later stage. Trees, drainage & electrical services, existing features, boundaries and site levels are all recorded.
Designs drawings
For basic schemes a simple sketch and scope of works may be all that’s needed? Moving on from sketches come the CAD setting out plans and working drawings. These are accurately scaled for builders and manufacturers to build your garden. Lighting and planting plans are drawn to scale ready for installation.
Presentation plans and perspective drawings can either be hand drawn or computer aided. Elevations and sections can be provided on request.
Mood Board
A ‘mood board’ helps to set the scene! To show images and features that are integral to the design. Samples of hard & soft landscaping are also provided and therefore can be seen ‘in context’ with the existing site and forms an important presentation tool, used to describing the design.
Budget
Note: before proceeding too far it is important to get an idea as to the eventual cost by means of a budget. This insures there are sufficient funds available for the design before proceeding too far!
Models
Models can be physically built for the client to see the finished product. They are particularly helpful when architectural features figure heavily in the design.
Project management
To ensure the design comes to life with a minimum of hick-ups we would always recommend we manage the building works. From experience managing the contract takes much of the pressure away from the client. Details and finishes can then be adapted/modelled to suite the site and the costs closely monitored. Deliveries and installation of materials are tightly scheduled in order that the project runs smoothly to programme.