The Process the stages common to each garden design project

Every project is unique and tailored to the individual client with the design process taking different routes, but the following steps are generally common to each project.

Due to Stuarts experience of collaboration these design stages closely follow that of Landscape Architects and Architects allowing him to streamline his workflow when working as part of a larger team.

Stuart strives to run a paperless studio with all client presentations prepared and presented digitally.

This initial stage allows Stuart’s client driven design approach to hone in on the client’s needs, desires and drivers for the creation of their space.

Through a series of face to face meetings Stuart will pull together a Client Brief Document that lists out the individual requirements and aspirations for the garden which forms the backbone of the design process.

A detailed survey is key to unlocking the opportunities of the site and includes such things as site boundaries, existing features, levels and existing vegetation.

Together with a site analysis, including a full photographic record, this information will inform the design process. This full topographical survey is essential for most sites to provide an accurate base with which to formulate proposals all of which needs to be undertaken by a professional surveyor which Stuart can arrange.

The concept design stage looks at the project from a broad viewpoint, covering all of the clients wishes and desires for the garden as a whole, whilst being suggestive about the finer detail of certain areas, allowing the client to be fully engaged and part of the design process as the design ideas are formed and the spaces crafted.

Master plans, sections and 3D visuals are used to convey design ideas to the clients using a mixture of hand drawn sketches, AutoCAD, Sketchup and Twinmotion.

Following feedback from the initial concept stage Stuart will refine the design to produce a developed Master plan and set of drawings to convey the complete design scheme. This will take the broad concept vision into the finer detail of each area of the garden along with suggested materials and an overview of the planting palette.

Master plans, sections and 3D visuals again will form the backbone of the presentation drawings used to convey design ideas to the clients, using a mixture of hand drawn sketches, AutoCAD, Sketchup and Twinmotion.

This stage covers all of the working drawings for the project which will form the complete design and tender package required for building the garden. It will cover everything from setting out drawings and technical details of hard landscaping elements to plant specifications and soft landscaping plans.

This stage also covers the full written specification for the project and CDM documents. These complete drawing packages are used by contractors to accurately quote for and build the garden.

Once a contractor has been chosen and the build goes live Stuart will undertake site inspections. These inspection visits are to ensure that the garden is built to plan from spatial layout and technical construction to planting setting out and final sign-off.