PROCESS:
Process is directional; it takes us from vague notions towards a clear, achievable, illustrated vision. The design process in particular, is fluid and organic. It can take many forms and include some or all of the following sub headings or more.

INITIAL SITE MEETING:
This meeting is our first introduction to the site, but more importantly, to listen to the client’s hopes and wishes relative to it. This information often crystallizes into the terms of reference we would use to guide us during the design process

TERMS OF REFERENCE:
A list of client’s wishes, relative to the direction she, he or they would like to see with regard to the development of the site (they can be either verbal or written). A questionnaire is a survey; especially when answered by an interested client. It may clarify the rationale behind directions offered by a client in the first instance.

FEE PROPOSAL:
A document based on the terms of reference, summarizing the services related to producing a conceptual plan and showing how the client’s wishes as expressed in the terms of reference would be realized. It would include the estimated time and fee to produce the concept. A signed copy of the fee proposal, together with a retainer [usually 35% of the proposed fee] constitutes the agreement for the landscape architect to proceed.

QUESTIONNAIRE:
A questionnaire attempts to gain insight into the preferences of clients. It may clarify the rationale behind directions offered by the client in the “terms of reference”.

SURVEY:
Whether an official land surveyors document, or a less formal gathering of pertinent site information, it is a graphic compilation of topographical and other site information. Since it is most often the basis for landscape architectural design work, some or all of the survey information is plotted onto the base plan.

BASE PLAN:
The Base Plan, sometimes referred to as the status quo plan, is what is most often used to generate the site analysis.

SITE ANALYSIS:
The Site Analysis is a graphic representation of the site, highlighting many of it‘s opportunities and problems along with ways of enhancing or mitigating these as required. It can and often does include annotations, sketches, sections and or photographs.

USE AREA DIAGRAM:
Typically the Use Area Diagram starts out as a transparent overlay on top of the site analysis. Most permanent elements and information of the site analysis, would be transposed to the use area diagram.

Destinations, relationships between elements, circulation, flow etc. would be added to the Use Area Diagram. In fact, the Use Area Diagram can and often does become the basis for the concept.

Even though most of the lay-out and positioning on the Use Area Diagram is based on the actual location of elements as they occur on the site, there could be a degree of artistic licence with regard to how different activities and areas are juxtaposed. Once the Use Area Diagram is complete, we move into the preliminary design stage.

PRELIMINARY DESIGN:
With sensitivity and experience, pulling all the elements from the Use Area Diagram together can make a project look stunning, without it, a noticeable clumsiness is often apparent. It would typically include the plan with possibly a section or two.

RENDERING:
A colour rendering of the above, makes the concept come alive, attractive and easy to read.

DESIGN RATIONALE:
A summary of the reasoning behind some of the most prominent design decisions.

PRESENTATION OF THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN:
This presentation, a highlight in the design process, is where our interpretation of the client’s directives, literally illustrates how astute our listening skills on, as well as between the lines have been.

It is not uncommon for clients to want to frame this Preliminary Concept Drawing. At this point we typically recommend that the client[s] post the Preliminary Concept for a week to ten days, mostly to have adequate time to synthesize the information.

CLIENT REVIEW OF PRELIMINARY CONCEPT:
Client[s] would take some time to invite thoughts, comments, critiques and ideas from family, friends and guests, and consequently distill the results into a list of proposed refinements.

REVIEW MEETING:
This meeting would be a dialogue related to the merits, methods and ramifications of implementing the proposed refinements.

REVISION OF THE PRELIMINARY CONCEPT:
Implementing the changes generated by the client review and the review meeting, resulting in a new drawing, “the revised concept”.

FINE TUNING THE PRELIMINARY CONCEPT:
This process consists of Implementing the changes generated by the client review and the review meeting, resulting in the Final Concept.

FINAL CONCEPT:
A drawing on which further work and costing would be based.

COSTING:
A per item costing of elements shown in the Final Concept. This is not always done, since costs would be provided by contractors bidding on the project when it is put out to tender.

DETAIL AND WORKING DRAWINGS:
Drawings such as a planting plan, construction details, grading, irrigation or lighting plans, paving lay-out etc. would all be based on the revised concept. Typically a new estimate for further work would be agreed upon to prepare a package on which contractors would bid.

TENDERING:
Tendering is an invitation for contractors [generally no more than three] to bid on the project. The more information they receive, the more effective they can be in preparing a fee. The concept must be thorough, and include as many of the elements such as a planting plan, construction details, grading, irrigation or lighting plans, paving lay-out etc. as feasible, in order to expect contractor’s pricing to be accurate.

SITE VISITS AND REVIEWS:
No matter how detailed the drawings, it is inevitable that situations, requiring direction, arise during construction and or installation. While it may be tempting to rely on the contractor’s often logical and practical modifications of the plans, the final result is almost invariably a deterioration of the integrity of the overall vision.
There is no substitute for our input at this point. Usually we are no more than a phone call away, and are happy to resolve whatever issue arises at a moment’s notice.

BI-ANNUAL AND ANNUAL REVIEWS:
We are more than happy to review the garden with you on a regular basis at your convenience. Initially, we recommend doing this on a bi-annual, and later on an annual basis. This guarantees that your garden will retain the character and direction throughout its process of maturation.