HOW WE DO IT

Pre-design (site consultation)

Design Brief, Requirements and Budget

A preliminary on-site meeting with you is held to discuss design brief, requirements and budget. It is beneficial if you have prepared a design brief and have an idea of how you would like to use the outside spaces. A collection of magazine images and landscape ideas give our designer a strong notion of your style and requirements.

Site analysis

While on site, we analyse the existing site including vegetation evaluation, aspect and vistas, existing buildings and structures layout, levels and slopes, microclimate issues, etc. Digital photos are taken of the site for closer analysis at a later stage.

What else do we need?

Clients are required to provide site documents for the design process. With new buildings, these can be acquired from your architect, council or engineer. If no plans exist, this can be drawn up by either the landscape designer or client. Properties with multiple levels or excessive slopes may require a proper surveyed plan drafted by a certified surveyor.

Next Step

A fee proposal is provided to you, outlining the scope of works and design services. Site plans, signed consent form and deposit are then required to commence the design phase of the landscape project.

Concept design

What is a Concept?

A concept is a gathering of ideas put down on paper. This will give you an idea of the layout of the various elements and how they interact with each other. A concept illustrates the intentions of the design, and allows or designer to visually and verbally ‘draw the picture’ of the end product.

Concept Development

Design concepts are formed based on the project brief and preliminary site analysis combined with your input at the initial site meeting. A concept montage is presented to show the proposed personality of the garden including major design elements, planting themes and material selection.

Concept Presentation

Concept drawings are presented to client, showing the basic design structure of the landscape. This may also include sections and elevations, 3D model of proposed site and coloured plan. Minor adjustments are drafted to incorporate client comments following presentation.

Approval and Design Continuation

Your comments and approval are then require (within 5 working days) before the next phase of design begins.

Costs involved and Services

Construction documentation

What is Construction Documentation?

Construction documentation (master plan) is drafted from which a landscape contractor or client can build the design.

CD Development

The drawings may comprise of a full planting plan, set out plan, material finishes, irrigation specifications, essential sections and elevations, grading plan or necessary spot levels, indicative drainage, indicative lighting, construction details and specifications.

Approval

Completed working drawings are then issued to client. Arrangement of Engineer’s Certification is also done at this stage if required.

The Construction documentation is subjective to elements and the detail of the concept plan, and can typically cost $1,800 – $2,500

Construction Management

The next step

Following the completion of the construction documentation, SEED Landscapes offers a ‘quality control’ service on an hourly fee basis (this is a new service implemented due to feedback from other clients).

Set at $105.00/hr (+GST), a ceiling figure can be set with contact to you as this figure approaches or periodic invoicing throughout the construction phase.

This may encompass obtaining quotes from licensed contractors, revision of quotes and recommendation of which contractors to progress with.

We also provide construction assistance such as periodic site visits during construction including review of construction set-out, evaluation of plant layout, any redesigning due to changed site conditions or design modification, and inspection of plant and material quality.

This is a process put in place that is recommended by both designer and contractor to maintain the integrity of the design, and to ensure you receive a quality product.

Maintenance

Having spent so much on your garden, proper care to encourage productive growth for years to come is desirable.

MEDIUMS

We use a number of graphical mediums to illustrate our design concepts to our clients:

• Sketch plans
• Photo montage
• Elevations
• 3D virtual models
• Concept plan
• Construction Documentation (Op Works)
• Structural Detail Documentation