Landscaping for the Future

As a landscape designer, I increasingly see new building developments surrounded by the bare minimum of landscape schemes, usually designed by the architect as a last minute offering to ease the project through the planning stages.

It doesn’t always have to be an afterthought. If considered in detail, landscaping can be the ultimate compliment to the building in which it surrounds. It doesn’t only have to be about soft landscape either, many schemes are let down due to the poor quality of paving materials, step details and street furniture, as they are usually specified from an out of date brochure that’s lying around the office library. If a landscape architect is involved with a development from the early stages, these details can be designed and specified to tie the whole development together and provide a scheme with equal proportions of aesthetics and functionality.

The typical response to this is that the landscape does not generate extra revenue for the developer. In a round a bout way, I agree, but I will say that it does go a long way in making the building more attractive to investors and tenants and it could be the decider between two alternative options. It also creates an environment which will attract further investment in the future as more businesses wish to locate around an active commercial centre.

If the landscape is left to be a mere afterthought which fails to integrate with the development, we are sadly left with an outside space which is underused and unmaintained which unfortunately accounts for about 95% of our spaces designed within the last 50 years.

Do we really want to leave a legacy like the one our forebears of the late 50’s and 60’s left for us?

George Barnes

Landscape Designer

Vector Design Concepts

Fully agree with the comments made and the importance of both hard and soft landscaping in the presentation of a developmenment. I've worked on many bespoke homes and property developments where presentation is everything. A potential buyer is already impressed or not as the case may be before they've got thru the door. In reality many developers have a mind-set with landscaping as a low priority, budgets are often cut as a development progresses, and little thought is given to working practices and how they will impact on the soft landscaping around the work site. Compaction, poor quality or contaminated soil is often a problem to overcome. I could go on , after nearly 20 years i've seen a lot, it gradually wears your enthusiasm down!

"You got membrane under the hardcore?
I wouldn't put any less than 150mm to 200mm hardcore under on clay.
I've heard this is a problem this year. I haven't seen any effect sofar.
I've only done one patio with a step this year the sucker hasn't…"

"I think a few guys have experienced this, possibly ground heave. I've had a Patio I laid 6 years ago do a similar thing. It's a difficult one, because if you followed all the correct guidelines for your install, what do you do?
After an incredibly…"

I would love to hear if anyone has had an experience of paving being pushed up because of the hot and dry weather this summer. We have had a number of patios where this has become a problem (a couple we laid ourselves and quite a few more where…

Comments

chris nangle November 8, 2010 at 5:32pm

great post George,I sometimes find that architects will ask for products that are not always best for the project and seem to be rather unresponsive to input .
at its best it should be able to produce building and landscapes that work together perfectly
Stephen Hodson November 9, 2010 at 8:05pm

Fully agree with the comments made and the importance of both hard and soft landscaping in the presentation of a developmenment. I've worked on many bespoke homes and property developments where presentation is everything. A potential buyer is already impressed or not as the case may be before they've got thru the door. In reality many developers have a mind-set with landscaping as a low priority, budgets are often cut as a development progresses, and little thought is given to working practices and how they will impact on the soft landscaping around the work site. Compaction, poor quality or contaminated soil is often a problem to overcome. I could go on , after nearly 20 years i've seen a lot, it gradually wears your enthusiasm down!