Written by Charlotte Grieve – Landscape Architect at Thomas Consultants
When designing your home or development often the landscape design is an afterthought or something to check the boxes for conditions around gaining Resource Consent. But if brought into the project early on, Landscape Architects can have a profound effect on the overall success of a development. We work alongside other professionals to make sure your development is functional, logical, sustainable, and beautiful.
Our goal is to implement usable outdoor spaces that you will enjoy, which in turn increases the desirability around a development. You can have confidence knowing that you have a qualified and experienced professional working with you through any challenging issues on your commercial, residential, or public works project.
#1 – Landscape Architects add value to your home or development
Landscape architects add value to your home by enhancing the overall appeal of the space. While interior additions and modifications also add value, they tend to age and de-value faster than outdoor spaces. Landscaped areas will grow into their own and add value as time goes on. With the intensification of housing in New Zealand and especially in Auckland, people have come around to the idea of living in apartments and townhouses.
However, the most desirable of these developments are ones with well-designed and integrated outdoor spaces. No matter the size of the dwelling, people still want to feel connected to nature. We can help achieve this with any development.
#2 – Landscape Architects are trained to analyse and understand complex sites
Landscape Architects can look at a proposed site in its entirety and understand how different systems and elements relate to each other within the environment. We then plan and design around these elements to bring you the best design outcome possible. These elements might be sunlight, hydrological systems, ecological systems, or views.
Landscape Architects are trained illustrators and use drawings to design and solve problems. We can draw all the existing complexities layered with the design proposal, using this as an important tool to communicate with clients, stakeholders, or councils.
#3 – Landscape Architects can complete the process from start to finish.
Landscape Architects can work with you on your project from start to finish, finding solutions to problems as they occur. We coordinate with other professionals as needed to gain the best outcomes, bringing your ideas to reality and helping to execute your vision. We aim to save you money by keeping the project organised and streamlined throughout the process.
#4 – Landscape Architects can recommend the best plants for your site
Landscape Architects can advise you on the best plants for what you are after. Whether you are wanting a low maintenance native garden, or a colourful flowering garden space, we can advise you on the best plants to use and help you to achieve your vision.
Likewise, if it’s a ecological wetland space that you need designed to pick up excess water on site then we are fully equipped to design that too. Whatever the site problem at hand, the right plant selection can go a long way.
#5 – Landscape Architects will deliver a space that is creative, functional and on trend
Landscape Architects keep up with current trends and products and know the ‘best practice’ solutions in our changing environment. We know what will look good, capture your vision and function well. Plant selection and material choices can make a huge difference to the way we use and enjoy our landscapes, as well as playing an important role in sustainability and functionality. As designers Landscape Architects can capture what is special about the site, utilising local materials and identities, and mesh these together with global trends to create a truly unique landscape.
If you need further convincing on why to employ a landscape architect on your next project, or need further understanding on what we do as landscape architects then please refer to the below links:
- NZILA
- Importance of landscape architects
- 30 reasons why landscape architecture is more important than you think
- Reasons to hire a landscape architect
To find out more about landscape architecture and our services click here.
Need more help?
We have a highly experienced Landscape Architecture team ready to help you kickstart your next project. If you’d like us to help please contact us here.