Landscape Architecture

A good garden begins with knowing the soil: at the survey, the structure of the soil and how it drains, the falls and levels, the directions of sun and wind and the existing tree cover worth preserving are examined on site. The level relationship with the pool and the building is read at this stage.

On the same visit we listen to how you intend to use the space: where will you sit, where will you sunbathe, where will the children's and service areas go? The preliminary budget frame is settled in this conversation too, alongside the water source and the irrigation infrastructure.

• Soil structure and drainage observation
• Falls, levels and retaining requirements
• Sun and wind directions
• Existing tree and plant cover
• Level relationship with the pool and the building
• Water source and irrigation infrastructure
• Intended use (seating, play, shade)
• Preliminary budget frame

The garden is zoned by function: seating, sunbathing, walking and service areas are linked to one another by circulation axes, and the ratio of hard to soft landscaping is set according to the character of the site. Where there is a pool, deck edges and terrace levels are drawn at the same table as the pool.

The material palette is chosen to sit well with the pool finish and the architecture of the building; the preliminary plant palette and the outline scheme for lighting and irrigation are worked into the design. The design is presented as a 3D visual and the decisions are settled together.

• Functional zones (seating, sunbathing, service)
• Balance of hard and soft landscaping
• Circulation and walking axes
• Level and retaining solutions
• Material palette (stone, timber, composite)
• Preliminary selection of the plant palette
• Outline lighting and irrigation scheme
• 3D visual presentation and design approval

The lifespan of a garden is decided below ground: surface falls direct water away from the pool and the building, while drainage channels and permeable layers carry away the water that collects. These invisible layers beneath the deck and the natural stone prevent settlement, frost damage and damp.

The irrigation mains, the valve boxes and the lighting cable routes are laid in the same excavation. Electrical runs are planned with protection suited to moisture and with residual-current protection; no surface is closed up before the infrastructure has been tested.

• Setting the ground falls
• Surface drainage channels
• Permeable layers beneath deck and stone
• Rainwater collection and discharge
• Irrigation mains and valve boxes
• Lighting cable routes
• Circuit plan with residual-current protection
• Infrastructure testing and closing up

Around a pool, materials are chosen first for their slip resistance and only then for their appearance: natural stones such as travertine and andesite, given the right surface treatment, stay safe when wet and cool underfoot. Kerbs and edge profiles direct water into the drainage rather than into the pool.

On the deck side there are two routes: natural timber offers grain and coolness but calls for periodic maintenance; composite is low-maintenance but can get hotter in the sun. Whichever is chosen, ventilation beneath the boards, correct drainage and expansion joints are the details of the installation that are not open to negotiation.

• Natural stone selection and surface treatment
• Slip resistance and barefoot comfort
• Timber / composite deck decision
• Ventilation and drainage beneath the deck
• Joint and expansion details
• Kerbs and pool edge profiles
• Structures such as pergolas and seating walls
• Level-controlled paving and final check

The plant palette is built around the climate, the soil and ease of maintenance rather than a catalogue. At the pool's edge, species that shed little, have controlled roots and tolerate chlorine splash are preferred; needs such as shade, privacy and wind screening are resolved through the planting.

The composition is spread across all four seasons: deciduous and evergreen species, flowering periods and textures are arranged to complement one another. Planting is scheduled around each species' seasonal window and completed with soil improvement and monitoring of the first watering.

• Plant palette suited to the climate and soil
• Low-litter species at the pool's edge
• Avoiding species with aggressive roots
• Planting for shade and privacy
• Green windbreak bands
• Four-season balance in the composition
• Soil improvement and planting
• First watering and establishment monitoring

Irrigation is separated by plant type: drip lines carry water straight to the root, while sprinkler zones are given over to lawn areas. Automation supported by timers and sensors delivers water in the amount required and at the hour required — a single head directed onto hard surfaces or into the pool means waste and a chemical load alike.

Lighting is built with low, glare-free fittings in a protection class suited to moisture: walkways and changes of level are lit for safety, trees and textures for atmosphere. The garden lighting and the pool lighting meet in a single night-time scenario.

• Drip irrigation lines (plant roots)
• Sprinkler zones (lawn areas)
• Irrigation automation and scheduling
• Rain sensor and seasonal adjustment
• Irrigation laid out clear of the pool
• Fittings protected against moisture
• Walkway and level-change lighting
• A shared night scenario with the pool lighting

At handover we set up the garden's user guide together: adjusting the irrigation programme for the season, the pruning and feeding calendar, the oiling routine for a timber deck and cleaning recommendations for stone surfaces are all passed on in writing.

Through the first season we follow the establishment of the plants and the bedding-in of the systems with inspection visits. A landscape grows more beautiful not on the day it is handed over but as it matures over the years; the right maintenance plan is the guarantee of that maturing.

• Handover of and training on the irrigation programme
• Pruning and feeding calendar
• Timber deck oiling routine
• Stone surface cleaning recommendations
• Training on the lighting scenarios
• Notes on preparing for winter
• First-season inspection visit plan
• Warranty and maintenance file