Designing

Usually, we divide a landscape design project into two stages: rough design and detailed design.

Rough design

At this stage, a project answers the general question, i.e. what is going to be here? This is a master layout (or general layout) with an additional note and several visualized elements that cannot be depicted in the rough layout.

The contents of the rough design depend on various factors and always fit individually.

Master layout is elaborated in a representative scale and usually demonstrates no details (they will be developed in a detailed design); however, it allows you to grasp the designer’s idea as a whole.

Master layout shows dimensions and locations of buildings, logic and hierarchy of transport and pedestrian circulation, types of coatings and pavements, geoplastics (i.e. artificial terrain modification), the location of architectural accessories.

The explanatory note, attached to the master layout, among others contains main "scenarios" possible in this territory, as well as the description of created spaces (zones), the sequence of vistas. The note may also include the forecast for the development of garden units within several years and provide general advice regarding their maintenance.

Visualization demonstrates the volume (3D) structure of spaces created, planned vertical displays of landscape units, match of architectural accessories and buildings exteriors with surrounding landscape - how they will be seen by people at their height within the frame of visual angle.

Depending on the complexity of the task, visualization can be a simple outline sketch carrying a general idea of volumes, or detailed illustration in various technics and their combinations. In the most challenging cases, visualization could be enriched with photomontage and computer 3D models. The latter may be reasonable if it is necessary to calculate how terrain heights, shadows of buildings and trees within 24 hours, seasonal changes, and plants growth over the years may influence visual reception of the place.

To the rough design, we may attach illustrations of similar realized projects, buildings, and landscape units from several sources. Usually, we add a palette of materials, i.e. first selection of illustrations and/or samples offered by a landscape architect for paving, flooring, retaining walls. Its purpose — to provide harmonious style and color union both among these materials and with buildings.

Moreover, we undertake to pick planting material in advance. We attach pictures and short descriptions of plants suitable for the project including pictures of plants from nursery gardens with their dimensions and prices.

We choose plants for projects relying on multiple factors: local climate and soil, humidity and light conditions, wind protection, possible level of care, wanted terrain style, client's preferences, issues of ecology (including potential danger that some garden plants could “run away” to surrounding natural environment), budget.

For plants changing radically throughout the year, we can include seasonal habitus range showing how the plant looks during this or that season.

Detailed planting layouts are designed within a detailed project.

Finally, the rough project includes a preliminary concept of lighting in the territory: light zoning with the choice of lamps from vendors’ catalogs, recommendations on their style, grouping, and switching sequence. Lamps may be tall or short, for buildings and for plants, safety lights.

Detailed design

When the rough project is approved, we continue with elaborating a detailed design.

A detailed design project answers the question “how and of what ingredients it will be done”. The detailed design includes all specialties needed to bring the rough design to life: engineering drawings of architectural forms, pavements and coatings, watering, drainage, and lighting systems, layout and planting plans, as well as working schedule and cost estimates.

  • Landscape design at public and private areas
  • Complex improvement and gardening at residential and public areas
  • Landscape design at specialized facilities (hotels, golf clubs, amusement parks, children playgrounds)
  • Elaboration of architectural accessories
  • Design of water units (ponds, brooks, fountains)
  • Design of engineering systems:
    • automatic watering
    • outside lighting
    • drainage and sewerage
  • Calculation of costs for construction and operation at all project stages