How much does a landscape design cost? It’s very important to thoroughly plan the landscaping work around your house, not just because of the aesthetic effect, but also to save money and time. If you carefully plan this during the design stage, you’ll have enough time for major earthwork, including excavation, installing a rainwater harvesting system, outdoor lighting wiring, for your garage or parking space, planning the tree and flower layout, installing a watering system, etc. Any subsequent excavation or adjustment will require extra time and costs. Landscape architects charge based on the work they intend to carryout. There are no fixed prices when it comes to landscape design, but I suggest you budget anything from NGN200,000 and above to get a good job done for you. This price might tend to increase significantly after inspection. However, these designs don’t just tell you where to put a flower bed, but also include rainwater harvesting and drainage systems, sewer systems, manholes, staircases, retaining walls, paths, pavements, fish bonds, swimming pools, etc. landscaping concept is usually done at a scale of 1:100.
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Landscape architecture origins date back to the 18th century. At the time, this type of architecture was referred to as garden and park planning, while landscape architects used to design only parks and grounds around mansions, castles, palaces, and important government buildings. One of the most famous examples of good landscaping work, which is still admired by all landscape architects, is Park of Versailles, representative of the baroque style. The first systematic records referring to landscape architecture as a professional discipline can be traced back to the period before 1800. Joseph Addison made the first mention of landscape architecture in his 1712 papers, although the term didnt exist yet at the time. This hasnt become an official concept until 1828, when it was coined by Gilbert Laing Meason. This year is taken as the turning point in the landscape architecture history, as only then did it become a space planning discipline.
Although this branch of architecture was born in Europe, it began to flourish on the other side of the Atlantic, in the USA, at a time of rapid urbanisation and need for urban landscape design. The United States are still the leader with this kind of projects, some of which are truly breath-taking. Also, most specialist books and articles on this topic are published there, which inevitably leads to faster progress in all landscaping fields. In this sense, we can say that 1899 was a turning point in a way, as this is the year when the American Society of Landscape Architects was founded.
Landscape architecture has now become an industry dealing with designing and planning of the outdoor environment, such as amenity grassland, memorial parks, and other attractions, and it has tremendous social, aesthetical, environmental, and personal influence on space, but also its inhabitants. When making their designs, among other significant factors, landscape architects take into consideration local land features and other natural landscape characteristics in order to preserve, improve, and expand them. In other words, they form new environments. In addition to arranging plants and natural landscape, their work also involves designing urban elements, like driveways, paths, passages, squares, junctions, but also accessories, like benches, bins, playgrounds, decks, lighting, etc.
This branch of architecture is very comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and complex, as it deals with different environments, landscapes, and spaces. All these types of landscapes can differ to a greater or lesser degree in terms of dimensions, locations, vegetation, and landscaping methods. Landscape architecture creates public urban spaces (squares, campuses, leisure centres) and related parks, paths, driveways, and passages, but also theme green areas, which accounts for its public domain. On the other hand, private gardens, developments, and similar facilities where landscaping is equally important as interior design, are on the rise. According to current trends, its not just the indoor environment that should provide comfort and high life standards, but this is also important for the outdoor areas, as together, they should make a harmonious whole. Today, landscape architecture also specializes in landscape and large uninhabited area management, as well as reclamation of degraded and devastated areas, such as landfills and mines. These criteria can apply to dozens of acres of parks and woodland, or just a couple of dozen square metres of private backyards.
Architecture is still a rather challenging multidisciplinary industry, encompassing various fields of knowledge, but landscape architecture has almost surpassed it in this regard. Landscape architects are professionals knowledgeable about botany, horticulture, architecture, site planning, design, art, psychology, the environment, sociology, geology, geography, ecology, biology, etc. It goes without saying that, in addition to thorough knowledge about plant species and their characteristics, an architect has to be familiar with a myriad of other things. Not only do they have to deal with sustainable planning, human impact on the environment, and habits and lifestyle of the locals in an area, from a theoretical and an academic point of view, but they also need to be well familiar with features of the region in question—type of soil, local flora and fauna, which will develop to bring benefits to their region. They also have to be thoroughly familiar with site planning and be able to understand how to connect green areas to other parts of the town, so that together they form an integrated urban unit. Last but not least, they have to be knowledgeable about ecology to know how to reclaim devastated areas by restoring their biotic balance.
Unlike in the past, today, landscape architects arent just involved in natural landscape planning and design, but they also deal with management and organization. In addition to being designers, theyre also managers that control and manage natural resources. Landscape architects work closely with botanists, gardeners, architects, and site planning professionals. They also often have foresters as teammates, where they act as managers participating in decision-making regarding long-term sustainable development, maintenance, and reclamation of an area.
A landscape architect is a person who designs, plans, organizes, and manages natural landscapes. As weve explained above, in a way, this is a kind of urban makeover, which involves, for instance, landscaping of city parks or parks around university campuses, private yards, or conducting such works in vulnerable and wild areas. Note that a landscape architect is supposed to design landscapes, not buildings. In our country, these studies are available in schools of forestry, rather than architecture, which shows that this field has more to do with botany, horticulture, ecology, and biology, than it has with civil engineering and architecture.
No family home garden or yard can be compared to public ones in terms of dimensions, criteria, and scope of work. However, a landscape architect can be quite helpful if youre looking to make your yard/garden a harmonious unit with its own concept and guiding idea. Landscape architects excel at combining their knowledge about plant species with their keen sense of space and aesthetics. They will know which plants to include according to your preferences and expectations, and make a harmonious and appealing layout, which will stay colourful all year round. Only a true professional can do this, especially in case of large yards.
Besides designing yards and the layout of flowers, bushes, and trees, a landscape architect is also tasked with designing paths, stairs, terraces, and gazebos, and this way, create physical connections between different parts of the land. Theyll offer to help with everything or even take charge of the overall planting organization, find contractors, manage and coordinate the planting process, and conduct quality control of the execution of works. Ideally, landscaping should start at the same time as building design, as everything is easier and cheaper if all preliminary works are done simultaneously. Subsequent works are always costlier, but the satisfaction you get afterwards is definitely worth the investment.
A landscape architect will make sure the outdoors complements the architectural features of the building. This means that the building should match its surroundings as much as possible, and that the two have a meaningful connection. Good landscaping work adds value to the property, so a landscape architect is always hired when theres a public architectural project. Nothing beats the feeling of looking out the window to see lush greenery tempting you to go out. An architect and a landscape architect working closely together is a relatively new thing, as it wasnt long ago when an architect did all the work on their own.
In the early 19th century, site planning started gaining momentum, especially in the US at the time of expansion of urban development. As a result, ever since, theres been a growing demand for experts who would embed landscaped areas into an urban environment. One of the most famous examples of this are Central Park and Brooklyn Prospect in New York and the Emerald Necklace in Boston. It is exactly the fast-growing US cities that turned out to be a big break for landscape architects, which allowed them to expand their scope.
Yards are usually taken care of by landscape architects, especially if theyre part of a family home or private land. Everyone wants to admire lush greenery outside their home, and landscape architects are there to work magic with plants. The outdoor area around private houses usually consists of two parts—a smaller front yard that serves as the centrepiece, complemented with a theme garden, e.g. a vegetable or herb garden or an orchard behind the house. Although yards vary in plant species, complexity, and maintenance, if the landscape design is good, there is an aesthetical, visual, and functional harmony and connection. Theyre usually connected with the same plant species, designed to make smooth transitions. Yards are designed according to the sun path, penumbra, and shade, but also other outdoor elements (e.g. paths, driveways, stairs, etc.), and of course, in line with your preferences. Some people prefer artsy French-style gardens with thick vegetation and abundance of plant species, while others are fans of more natural no-nonsense environments, so they go with wildflowers and less demanding species.
In addition to yards, a landscape architect also designs paths, driveways, stairs, and puts passages between some parts. Theyll also decide on where a terrace or gazebo might stand. No matter how well-designed an area is, you cant fully appreciate it if you cant access it, so a carefully thought out system of paths that will help you navigated a property is a must.
A landscape architect will suggest what pieces of outdoor equipment are an option for the given area. Some designs go well with wooden chairs, armchairs, and tables, while for others, more rustic garden furniture is a better fit. They may recommend an outdoor fireplace or open-hearth fireplace, or even water features, like swimming pools, ponds, swimming ponds, or fountains. All this must be accompanied by a lighting design, or else these areas will be inaccessible in the evening or at night.
The first thing wed recommend is putting all your wishes and expectations on paper. Have you got any favourite plants, colours, shapes youd like to include? One of the main considerations should definitely be the plans appropriateness, or rather its sustainability, as its important to keep your yard maintained and do all the work needed. Make sure youre on the same page with the professional you hire about what you have in mind—a wild, natural, untamed, or completely landscaped area. However, you should know that some factors affecting the landscaping work are beyond your control and might not be in line with your expectations and preferences, such as land orientation, which affects the amount of sunlight it gets (different plant species require different conditions), precipitation, wind speed, surrounding vegetation, which is something you have to give at least some consideration when planning your new project.
When choosing a landscape architect, make sure you get some information about their previous projects. Ask them for photos of their work or see it in person if theyve done some public spaces. If you have compatible personalities, itll be easier to reach solutions that everyones happy with.
A landscape architect wont start thinking about the landscape design until they visit the location. Its important to identify the sun path, penumbra, shade, terrain slope, soil characteristics, native species, local vegetation, passages, access roads, and all other important factors. The new design has to effortlessly fit in with the existing arrangement and be suitable for the given climate and topography. Otherwise, the plants wont thrive and the yard will be extremely difficult to maintain. Also, any sloping areas where rain might erode the soil away should be secured with a hollow-core, retaining, or breast wall. Any vegetation that can control erosion should be planted, too.
A landscape architect can take soil samples from different locations and have them analysed in a laboratory. This is a good way to learn about the content of minerals (phosphorus, potassium, and organic substances), which is particularly useful when you know almost nothing about the soil, and there are no gardens nearby (so you cant know if anything can grow there).
In this case, a landscape architect will also need a land survey as theres no other way to find place for the necessary elements. To do a land survey, which is later sent to the landscape architect, you have to hire a surveyor.
Making a concept design is the best part of a project. This is the point where the overall concept is formed—the guiding idea, which will create harmony among different parts and bring them together. The area is then divided into different sectors, with the boundaries between the lawn, flower beds, perennial plants, trees, bushes, gardens (orchards, vegetable and herb gardens), etc. clearly defined. Also, paths, stairs, terraces, and other access routes are marked and laid out, and the materials are selected. In addition to a floor plan, a landscape architect will also prepare layouts. Specific plant species or their quantities are still not determined at this stage in the process.
A project execution plan includes a detailed list of plant species in Latin and their quantities, precisely defined locations for each one of them and exact dimensions of other areas and connections between them.
Once all is set and ready, a landscape architect will help you choose the contractor. Contractors include gardeners who will plant the vegetation, garden centres wholl sell it, and earthwork and construction workers wholl take care of other outdoor elements, such as pavements, paths, and terraces. We suggest you collect several offers, as this will allow you to compare different contractors prices and choose the best option.
After all contractors have been selected and hired, landscaping may start! The first step involves doing earthwork and building protection walls, together with outdoor paths, terraces, and floors. Then you can start with mapping out where you want your flower bed to be and ploughing the soil. The final step is planting and protecting the plants from pests and other animals, since new shoots are particularly sensitive. Also, make sure you do planting at the right time—some plants are planted during raining seasons, while others in the late summer. They should also have enough water, both right after theyre planted and later.
Once everything is over and you get what you want, this still doesnt mean the work is done. In fact, its just begun, because, being a living organism, every yard needs care, attention, and maintenance, which means that besides effort, youll have to invest your time and money. All this should be done following advice and instructions from experts. This is the only way to ensure everything is impeccable and spotless. If youre not sure you can do this alone, it might be a good idea to hire a gardener from time to time or for a long term, and were sure youll find them immensely helpful.
Landscape architects price varies depending on the area (topograghy) and size of landscaping area. In addition to the plant layout, these drawings also provide for rainwater collection and removal, sewerage, manholes, covers, and drains. They also include sketches of stairs, retaining/breast walls, paths, kerbs, and swimming pools or swimming ponds.
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