Professional Services
Site Analysis and Feasibility
The first task on any project is generally an inspection and investigation on the site and its quality and conditions, covering numerous aspects that may include soils and micro-climate, aspect and wider physical context, character and history. This analysis, tailored to the scale of project, can form the basis of more formalised reports and studies or simply inform the development of a design. We are able to produce feasibility studies to assess the viability of a project against the constraints of a site. We have experience of preparing all manner of stand-a-lone landscape submissions and specialist inputs for planning, including for example design and access statements when submitting public realm schemes to planning committees.
Landscape Design
Our design team are all qualified landscape architects and across the Exterior Architecture team we have experience working on a broad variety of different landscapes in geographic regions around the world. We are proficient at designing in all scales from intimate domestic landscapes to large estates in rural areas, from small public realm spaces to broad parkland both throughout the UK and abroad. We also enjoy collaborating with other design professionals such as architects, engineers, developers and artists to create new and exciting private and public spaces.
Planting Design
We are creative and experienced planting (softscape) designers with in depth knowledge of native and ornamental species found in the UK. We have experience of designing effective planting schemes for many different soil types and micro-climates from exposed, containerized roof gardens to formal mixed borders, bog gardens, wetlands, exotic sub-tropical gardens and woodland gardens. In addition we also have broad experience of Southern Hemisphere temperate species many of which grow happily within the United Kingdom, including the competition winning New Zealand plant collection at Savill Garden, Great Windsor Park.
We understand the need for a different character of planting to compliment different spaces, architecture, and built settings, and to reinforce a distinct sense of place. When designing a planting scheme Exterior Architecture ensure it is well structured and effective in the physical 'three-dimensions' with plant groupings having the heights and shapes to compliment each other. We also consider the 'fourth-dimension' of time. Plants are chosen to reflect the changing seasons and perform well perennially in future. We can advise on appropriate landscape maintenance programmes to aid planting establishment, and maximise future performance and durability.
Landscape Construction & Implementation
We are able to provide all the necessary landscape plans, details and documents for the procurement of an appropriate supplier and/or contractor through schedules that encourage accurate and competitive pricing. Whether that procurement is formalised with a full tender process or tailored on smaller projects to short listing and negotiation, we assist clients with the process of putting a project out for pricing with several competing contractors, then compare and analyse the submissions to recommend an appropriate bid.
We can assist setting up contracts between the client and their chosen contractor and offer design guidance and inputs, and site inspections of the landscape works at regular intervals on the clients’ behalf during the construction period. We also offer a full project administration service if required.
Landscape Management and Maintenance
Exterior Architecture design landscapes with their future management and maintenance in mind. Examples of this approach include specifying energy efficient outdoor lighting with low voltage fixtures and long life spans, and schematic designs for simple irrigation systems where these are deemed essential. Potential future maintenance tasks are reduced by careful design at the outset, as illustrated by our avoidance of porous natural stone or timber decking in shady areas where experience tells us they will need constant cleaning. Where lawns need to look manicured throughout the year for example, we design edging details that can be mown over to avoid the need for time consuming and costly hand clipping operations.
In essence, we are keen that a completed landscape be easy to maintain in recognition of the time and budget requirements of our commercial and private clients. We know that the greater the robustness of the design, the less intensive the landscape maintenance will be required. High quality and robust durable design lends a greater likelihood of retaining the high quality visual appearance, the safety and durability of structural and furniture elements and the health and vitality of plants in the years to come. We are able advise on the future maintenance of both new and existing landscapes and can provide maintenance schedules/programmes that detail the tasks that need to be performed seasonally over a annual cycle to keep a particular landscape looking its best. Similarly we can set up and inspect maintenance contracts when the construction phase of a landscape is complete.
