2 Site appraisal Flashcards
State what methods are used to collect and record site information.
- Photographs to remind of the exact location of features on the site.
- overlapping pictures to give a 360-degree view.
- Mobile phone apps can also replace a compass for checking the orientation of the garden on a cloudy day
- consult public records: position of utilities, whether the site is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a Conservation Area, or has any tree preservation orders in force.
- walk around the site with the client, to get some background information on the planting
attached to some plants for sentimental reasons?
2.1 State what existing features and characteristics need to be recorded.
- accurate record of what you have to work with (or work around) on site: buildings, walls, fences and paving; trees and shrubs, ponds and other built features and the location of underground services, outside taps and inspection covers.
- need to be marked on the plan drawn up of the site.
- record the condition of hard and soft landscape features (decide whether they can be retained or need to be removed)
- Access to the site and garden / space for parking, deliveries of bulky materials and machinery, room for a skip / Steps or narrow entrances could add to cost (limited access) / limited type of machinery that can be used
- record site characteristics –environmental factors such as the orientation of the garden, slopes and changes in level, shade and exposure, as well as views from the garden, and key viewpoints from the house into the garden.
- The environment around the garden, not just for views but also for practical factors such as busy roads causing noise and exhaust pollution, flight paths of aircraft, etc.
- Physical factors (soil type and depth, drainage, pH etc) need to be assessed while you are On site
Explain the influence of features and characteristics on choice of design
Access from road, access around site.
• Architecture of house and style of existing hard landscaping (e.g. form, materials, colours, textures)
• Trees and vegetation: Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), Conservation area, roots.
• Service benefits (water an electricity supply) and limitations (e.g. manhole covers , telegraph pole).
• Influence of site characteristics on plant choice and positioning of proposed features (e.g. seating areas, summer houses, steps, terracing, water features, statues, glasshouses, vegetable and fruit plots, utility areas).
How can access from road affect the design
- affects size of machinery that can be used
- ease of transporting materials to and from site, if only wheelbarrow that will rise costs significantly
- condition (can it hold heavy machinery or will it break, get damaged?) position (awkward angle?) and width of paths, driveways, gates (wide enough?)
- gates and paths are correctly sited for function and style
- *
How can access from house to garden affect the design.
- affects where paths are needed
- is there a slope?
- how is the garden used, whether gates and paths are correctly sited for function and style
- Direct paths from one point to another facilitate access. Meandering paths allow appreciation of different vie
- Disabled users – question whether existing hard landscaping is safe and convenient for use, whether ramps, handrails and so on are adequate. Children – are there safety risks, such as ponds? For gardeners and landscapers – will work be limited or more costly due to difficult access?
How does access around the garden affect the design
- Steep slopes?
- narrow entrances?
- affects ease of moving materials around site and where paths are needed
affect on design
Dimensions
Size and shape of site plot boundaries
Size and type of features/plants to include:
Design factors may be required to make the plot appear longer or wider
Awkward areas to plan for, or possibilities for extra interest with garden rooms/separate areas
size and shape of the garden affects types of features and plants used. Designing for awkward shapes can lead to innovative use of hard/soft landscaping. Size and shape of garden affect design (eg a narrow garden may use diagonal patterns, lawn size and hard landscaping to increase feeling of width, a small garden needs hard and soft landscaping in proportion to the garden size, a large garden can be divided into different ‘rooms’ and styles). Opportunity to use unusual shapes to create interest or use landscaping to make an uninteresting shape more unusual.
Affect on design
Garden buildings and structures, hard landscaping
- summerhouses, gazebos, pergolas, arches, obelisks, fences and walls, paving and steps:
condition and type, whether in keeping with site and style - no existing buildings or structures → allows designing from scratch with fewer restrictions.
- Existing structures need to be considered from the aspects of position, design, colour, style and size, and will influence the layout of the garden.
- existing structures → are they keeping in line with the garden style and function required.
- Repair work may be needed
Affect on design
Trees and vegetation
- Plants worth keeping, condition of lawns, condition of existing plants, including boundaries, Tree Preservation Orders (TPO’s), wildlife value
- little existing vegetation a clear palette provides the opportunity to design from scratch with fewer restrictions.
- Existing planting may influence the design and can have the benefit of adding maturity, structure and wildlife habitats
- There may be renovation work required for existing planting;
- TPO’s may be in existence protecting existing trees.
- With TPOs it may not be possible to cut down a large, imposing tree,
- birds nesting may limit timing of hedge cutting/removal.
- For disabled users – consider whether soft landscaping is easy to care for,
- for children – whether existing plants are harmful – if ingested, toxic sap (eg Euphorbia)
Affects on design
services
- Plot accurately: drains, electricity, gas, any underground cables, overhead cables, water pipes, drain covers
- Affects: depth of cultivation and position of features.
- Access will be needed for inspection (manhole) covers.
- Changing contours may expose pipes or cables.
- Overhead cables may restrict the use of large machinery.
- service benefits like water and electricity
- underground pipes may be a problem when laying drainage or building swimming pools.
Altitude affect on design
- Use of ordnance survey maps/geographical knowledge
- higher altitudes result in lower temperatures.
- Consider the temperature range for plant selection, hardiness of plants, fruit growing and ripening
- Extra wind breaks and shelter may be required for plants and hard landscape features
- Relevant to plant selection (certain plants survive better in exposed areas) and seating (people don’t usually want to sit in a high wind).
- Wind breaks (hedges or walls) can be put into design.
- In a sheltered garden tender plants may be grown and in an exposed garden hardy plants will be needed.
affect on design
Orientation/aspect
- Direction of N
- North-facing gardens: dark, cold, damp
South-facing gardens: hot, dry, bright
East-facing gardens:sun in morning, cold afternoons
West-facing gardens:cold mornings, hot afternoon - Position of house in plot and other buildings like glasshouse
- Sun or shade at different times of day affects plant selection, position of patios, entertainment areas and seating
- the position and height of the house, and surrounding structures and features will also affect shade cast at different times of day
- if seating area is in windy location, then a fence, screen might be needed
- steps in shade might become slippery, need extra grip
- trips and falls are more likely when one come from light into shade, so extar measures in place
Contours, topography effects on design
- Topography – degree and direction of any slopes
- Levelling may be required to position features such as patios/lawns which require a relatively flat surface
- Frost pockets caused by slopes and impermeable barriers affect plant selection, or may need to be rectified
- Drainage and erosion: implications of slopes need to be considered, for example, water may drain towards house and need rectifying, or consider areas where water naturally drains to for siting water features
- Interest can be created by different levels
- contour is the varying heights within a garden. Levelling may be necessary for patios or to get rid of frost pockets. Drainage and erosion may be a problem.
- Disabled users may have particular problems with slopes or stairs.
- Steep slopes can limit building access and maintenance (eg lawnmowers struggle with slopes).
- Sunken areas and steps can create views and interest.
Pollution, design effects
- Environmental (exhaust fumes, agricultural spraying), noise pollution from traffic and aircraft, light pollution (from sports pitches for example)
- Thick hedges may help to reduce noise pollution or filter particulates from the air;
- water features can distract from external noise levels;
- screening may filter unwanted lights
- Contouring on site may create different levels and sheltered areas away from noise and light.
soil
- PH, texture, structure, depth of top soil, soil pans, water content and drainage, nutrient content
- Problems: builders rubble and contamination, might need removing
- The soil may vary considerably within even a small side
- Plant selection: opportunities may exist to grow particular plants, e.g. calcifuges in an acid soil, but this will impose limitations on growing calcicoles.
- Drainage may be considered for siting water features and bog garden plants, or conversely well drained areas for plants adapted for dry conditions
- Soil amelioration may be required, e.g. incorporating organic matter, cultivation, sub soiling, installing drainage systems, liming, importing topsoil
