Garden Design Plans - The Master Plan

There are many different phases in the garden design process.  Each part of the process usually results in the production of one or more plans.  One of the most exciting phases is the design concept phase out of which comes the master plan.  This is the first of many plans that help to construct successfully a new garden. 

 Master Plan - Sloping Front Garden Design

The master plan is the top level garden design plan, it is the proposed new layout for the garden.  The master plan is a discussion document that allows the designer to convey their ideas and vision for the new garden to the client.  The master plan is usually presented to the client with additional visuals showing part of all of the garden in 3-D.  These supporting visuals help clients understand how the finished garden will look and feel.

 3-D Visual - Sloping Front Garden Design

Clients often mistakenly think they are buying a plan when they pay a garden designer. Whereas what they are actually purchasing is the designer’s knowledge, experience and ability to solve the technical problems associated with constructing gardens that meet the brief and respond to the topography of each site.  The master plan reflects the garden designer’s ideas and creative problem solving abilities honed over years of designing gardens of all shapes and sizes for clients with widely varying requirements.  

 Master Plan - Courtyard Garden Design

The master plan is a hard copy manifestation of the garden designer’s response to the brief.  It represents many hours of creative thinking.  It shows where everything is located – seating areas, retaining walls, planted areas, lawn, etc.  These elements must not only meet the client’s brief but also fit in the space, contain the correct balance of mass and void, and combine to give the garden a sense of symmetry.  This will result in a garden that feels comfortable to spend time in and also looks wonderful.  The design will also contain elements that move the eye around the garden and, if necessary, divert attention away from ugly external factors, or emphasise a beautiful borrowed view. 

Perspective view - Courtyard Garden Design

The master plan is based on a thorough topographical survey and site analysis.  The survey involves measuring the house and garden and any level changes around the site.  Taking an accurate survey is essential and some of the techniques required are covered in these blog posts Post 1, Post 2.  Very large gardens are best surveyed by a specialist garden surveyor.

Master Plan - Large Country Garden Design

The final garden design is arrived at by working out the practical requirements of the garden from the brief – seating area, paths, lawn, storage, etc - then translating this into a unique design using a number of different creative techniques.  The ideas are represented on a 2-D drawing - the master plan - that shows the house, any existing garden elements that are being retained and all the new parts of the garden.  The master plan will usually be presented to the client in colour, at A1 size, with each element labelled.  The master plan will always include the scale at which the plan is drawn, the drawing number, the designers name, the date and version number of the plan, and a title.

 3-D Visual - Large Country Garden Design

If you'd like help with designing your garden please get in touch.  Visit my Web site and Facebook page for more project photos. 

Linsey Evans Garden Design creates beautiful bespoke gardens throughout Berkshire, Surrey, London, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire.