This is the start in a new series within the home design edge blog, introducing specialists in the field that know a lot more than me about home design, construction and potentially other related areas. If you would like to contribute to this blog, please email me at andrew@homedesignedge.com. I’m actually quite keen at the moment to talk to representatives from a volume builder about issues other than sales and marketing and fair trading building disputes.
The purpose of the series is to shed light on home design issues that come up in fragmented parts of the internet, and consolidate them for easy consumption.
The focus this week is on enhancing the home with Landscape Design. Landscape has the ability to turn a house or building into a home. It can improve the street appeal, first impressions and overall value of the home, especially if it’s considered early in the design.
Landscape done properly requires specialist expertise. Even though I have decent experience in design and how things are put together, I would always contact a landscape architect for input into a home.
This week I’ve spoken with Chris from Roberts Brewer Design – Landscape Architecture and Design. I have known Chris professionally for several years and have collaborated on a recent private residential project. Chris has great ideas for how to transform spaces, he’s good to work with and backs it up with pragmatic considerations from his previous landscape contracting roles.
When did you start Roberts Brewer Design? What kind of work do you do?
At Roberts Brewer Design, we create bespoke outdoor spaces for people to interact with and enjoy everyday. Our expertise is in providing landscape design and architecture services for projects of all sizes, covering everything from small courtyard designs for residential homes, through to multi-unit developments, commercial and retail developments, and public domains.
We have focused on applying a creative, hands on and adaptable design process to deliver functional, integrated and inspiring landscape designs for clients. Our expertise in all aspects of design through to construction, including documentation, project management and maintenance, ensures that our designs are pragmatic and achievable so that our clients can enjoy their spaces for years to come.
I founded Roberts Brewer Design recently in 2016 based on my passion from over 15 years of international experience as a qualified landscape designer, qualified landscape architect, and as a landscape contractor.
What’s the difference between a landscape designer, landscape architect and landscape contractor?
The primary distinction between landscape architects and landscape designers is that designers typically work on smaller residential projects, whereas architects deliver a broader range of larger scale projects including public landscapes and open spaces, and the design of cities and urban environments which contribute economic, health and social benefits to local communities.
Horticulture is a strong focus of study for landscape designers, and their extensive knowledge of local plant species enables them to effectively visualise how a garden will look in maturity, select an appropriate planting palette, and plan maintenance requirements. A strong planting palette and design can often be the difference between a great and a mediocre outcome. You should always select a landscape designer with the appropriate qualifications.
Landscape architects study a broader scope of topics, including horticulture, ecology, geology, botany, urban planning and construction. With this knowledge they are qualified to design larger significant outdoor developments, and collaborate with Architects, Civil and Structural Engineers, Planners and various other consultants to ensure a holistic approach to planning future environments and cities.
Based on the design from a landscape designer/architect, a landscape contractor is the person (or team) who build and install the design. They are highly skilled in the fields of carpentry, horticulture, masonry, irrigation, plumbing etc. to ensure construction is delivered in line with the intended design and to the correct specifications. Landscape contractors may also offer maintenance services to ensure longevity of the landscape.
How can landscape improve the qualities of the home? What are the main areas you like to focus on?
Landscape is often a missed opportunity when it comes to building and renovating homes, and is often forgotten or de-prioritised in the process. The potential impact of focusing on the landscape as an extension to the house, or even simply as another room, can be significant. Not only can a functional and stylish landscape add substantial value to the property, but the versatility can provide positive physical and mental wellbeing impacts for you and your family, as well as develop and evolve to suit your needs.
This may mean an outdoor entertainment area to connect with friends and family, a swimming pool or tennis court for keeping active, an area for children to play, a cottage garden filled with the aroma of lavender and rosemary for relaxing, or even a simple outdoor courtyard extension for connecting with the inside environment.
Form and function are the key focus areas for any design. A good design will focus on more than just the landscape ‘floor plan’, but also the subtle selection and layout of elements within it to achieve the intended end result. This includes the selection and placement of plants, materials (including paving, fencing, structures, roofs), feature elements (including water features and artwork), lighting, the movement throughout the space and even how views beyond the property boundaries can be incorporated into the design.
When you first come to a site, what is your approach? What do you first see and do?
With any new customers or projects, my immediate priority is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the vision and wishes for the property. As the Design Director, I visit my clients on-site for an initial complementary consultation (around 60 to 90 minutes) to have a thorough conversation on any design requirements or expectations, as well as any potential ideas or interests.
Meeting on-site also allows me to see the existing space, visualise potential ideas, identify existing services (such as power, water, drainage etc.), establish any connections in and around the site and take any initial measurements or photographs of the space. It also gives me the opportunity to provide examples of inspirational images and previous work, and to explain the end-to-end process to ensure the client is comfortable with our approach and how we will work together.
What’s your process like working with the client? through each stage?
To ensure the experience of bringing your dreams to life is an enjoyable one, Roberts Brewer Design applies a hands on and adaptable approach tailored to every individual client and their requirements.
With every client, we will provide an initial complementary consultation with our Design Director to discuss the landscape requirements and ideas. We will then prepare a Design Brief to reflect our understanding of the scope and provide a fee proposal for the relevant works.
Typically, Concept Design Phase is completed which includes any plans, sketches, sections, 3D images (depending on the project), as well as an indicative planting palette and materials palette to guide you in the direction the project will take. This is an important phase to ensure that any subsequent construction or documentation is aligned to the design intent, including all the finer details.
Once a Concept Design is agreed, we develop the design and any supporting documentation required, including any Development Applications (if required), and the relevant Construction Documentation. We also engage with any relevant landscape contractors and sub-contractors throughout this process and into the Construction Phase. If appropriate, Roberts Brewer Design can recommend, manage and facilitate the entire process with any contractors to ensure the project is delivered on time and to the highest quality.
Upon construction completion, we will also provide a comprehensive and personalised user-friendly maintenance plan, including everything from planting and lawn care to timber and paving care to ensure you will enjoy your new space for years to come.
How does maintenance come into consideration?
A lot of people tend to ask for a no maintenance garden. Unfortunately there is no such thing, and there will always be some degree of general upkeep required to keep your property looking its best for as long as possible.
The level of maintenance required will vary significantly depending on the type of plants and materials in a project, so careful material and plant selection and placement during the design phase can minimise future maintenance requirements. Exposure to the elements over time can weather your materials and potentially deteriorate or diminish the appearance and structural integrity. Plants will naturally continue growing and can lose their shape and prevent other plants from developing currently. This can be minimised by developing and applying a consistent and simple maintenance plan from the outset.
Roberts Brewer Design provide a comprehensive and personalised user-friendly maintenance plan, including everything from planting and lawn care to timber and paving care to ensure you will enjoy your new space for years to come.