My first meeting with the client is to understand the scope of the project, to learn about the way they will be using the landscape, if they have specific likes and dislikes, how involved in the maintenance they want to be, and what their financial investment will be. From this information, I prepare a proposal that outlines what I understand as the scope of services, what tasks will be performed at each phase, what drawings are produced, and what my fees will be. For some projects, a strategy for staging the effort over time is devised to work within a client’s budget.

 

 

Site Inventory and Analysis
This phase involves documenting the existing features of the site, an inventory of the surrounding context of the site and a photographic survey of the site.  From this information, the site is analyzed to determine features to enhance or frame, features to screen or downplay, if there are existing features that should be saved or removed, what is the sun and wind exposure, and what type of soils and slope exist.  This type of information helps inform the design criteria.

Preliminary or Conceptual Plan
I devote much time in the beginning with design studies that explore alternative ways a design might unfold. I offer design alternatives in the preliminary stage that often result in a blended solution.  I present the client with hand drawn sketches of the design ideas and present a hand colored preliminary plan. I also create image boards to illustrate the concepts of the preliminary design. The drawings are drawn in AutoCAD, with the exception of the hand sketches.

Final Plan This is where the design is refined, details worked out, & materials specified. There often is a Landscape Master Plan which illustrates all of the components of the design. Additional drawings are created as necessary to detail any layout or grading issues, or if elevation drawings are necessary to illustrate size, materials and relationship of the built components in a design, i.e. walls, planters, decks, arbors, etc. A planting plan with a detailed plant schedule is also part of the final package. This final package is designed to communicate all pieces of the final landscape design to those who will be completing the installation.  I also provide the client with plant image boards to familiarize them with the plants specified on the planting plan.

Installation Being involved during the installation of the design, being in close communication with the landscape contractor and client helps create a superior project that respects the integrity and intent of the design.  Being present in this phase also allows me as the designer to be involved in defining creative solutions to problems that might arise during the installation.  By reviewing the construction at key times, I can be sure that the design on paper works in its real setting.  Not all elements of a design can be drawn and communicated on paper.  Often the intent can be spelled out, but the actual construction is where the artistic vision is made real.