Design Detailing: What is it & Why is it necessary?
Following completion of the initial concept for your new garden you may feel as though you’re ready to progress to construction, however there’s a crucial step prior to this that can ensure efficiency of build, accuracy of pricing and clarity on finishes…
There’s no doubt that the creation of a tailored garden concept that successfully resolves a space for a client involves time and effort. The financial and emotional investment of our clients warrants careful consideration of a scheme to ensure the functional requirements of their lifestyle, and their tastes in aesthetic, are met. Naturally then, when this concept process reaches completion, there is an excitement to break ground and bring the vision to life!
Before doing so however there are a number of layers beyond the overall spatial and aesthetic solutions of the concept that require further detail to deliver a truly successful outcome. Below we have outlined a range of different elements that may make up your project, and what the design detailing phase provides for client and contractor clarity.
Planting
The planting scheme plays a crucial part in the look and feel of the project, and is a personalised element with a specific palette being created to align with the clients desired planting style, and specific plant preferences.
Within design detailing a detailed planting package is produced with all plant species, sizes, quantities and locations specified, along with imagery of these for reference. This is created in close collaboration with the client, with consideration given to the soil profile, solar aspect and any other factors that may affect the success of the scheme.
Lighting
Lighting of the new garden is obviously key to bring things to life at night. A customised lighting scheme activates outdoor entertaining areas, provides clear access between spaces, enhances views from internal living areas and also highlights the external features.
A detailed lighting plan specifies fixtures and locations for the scheme, providing a clear breakdown that can be tailored to suit the clients function and budget requirements.
Pool
The pool is often the centrepiece of the yard, and the most significant cost within the project. Due to this it’s important to get things right, and there are a range of different decisions that can make or break the final outcome.
Detailing of this element includes the specification of the interior finish and internal layout (eg steps, seating etc.), depth, lighting, coping and surrounds, fencing, heating, pool equipment location and pool cover inclusion. All of these items are picked up within the pool drawings, which typically include sections and setout plans.
Custom Elements
Within each project there are often bespoke elements that require further detailing in order to convey specific information to specialist contractors and suppliers for a seamless install. Items such as outdoor kitchens, outdoor seating, shade structures or custom fencing and gates all fall within this category, with detailed plans, sections, elevations and 3D’s produced prior to construction to facilitate final pricing from the contractor and sign off on design from the client.
Finishes Schedule
Each and every element of the project requires some level of specification, and it’s within the material finishes schedule that this is all documented. This forms the ‘handbook’ for all involved with the project, providing a comprehensive breakdown, and also a record, of each and every specification decision needing to be made.
The document not only acts as a guide when the design team reviews the detailing package with the client, but also provides clear direction on ordering of materials, and directly references the associated detail drawings for each element.
Contractor Collaboration
Once the detailing package is complete, discussions can commence or continue with the relevant contractors in order for them to prepare final construction pricing for the project. With detailed drawings of all construction elements provided within this package, along with a preliminary finishes schedule, the accuracy of pricing is guaranteed, and the turn around time for the delivery of a final quote is minimised.
