Our work is rooted in ecological design. We integrate permaculture's whole systems framework, the topographical and hydrological sensibilities of Keyline design, Holistic Management's context and goals articulation strategies, along with sound listening and observation skills. While the scale, scope and context of our projects may vary widely, our process follows a thorough and consistent course.
We see our role as that of interpreter and facilitator. We aim to distill and clarify clients' goals while uncovering the constraints and realities of each unique site, ultimately building bridges where possible and advising alternate routes where necessary. We bring close to two decades' practical experience to help avoid the effects of unintended consequences.
We build relationships - between client, site and designer, and we strive to educate and aid our clients in honing their design skills, so that they may feel empowered to update and adapt their design as needed. We begin this process through an in-depth goals articulation process.
We see our role as that of interpreter and facilitator. We aim to distill and clarify clients' goals while uncovering the constraints and realities of each unique site, ultimately building bridges where possible and advising alternate routes where necessary. We bring close to two decades' practical experience to help avoid the effects of unintended consequences.
We build relationships - between client, site and designer, and we strive to educate and aid our clients in honing their design skills, so that they may feel empowered to update and adapt their design as needed. We begin this process through an in-depth goals articulation process.
Goals
The bedrock of our design lies in client goals. You provide us with your vision, skills, resources, and reservations. And these goals help to frame the way we examine the site. In some cases, client goals may be simplistic and straightforward, but more often than not, they present some of the most challenging introspective work in the entire process. We review your responses to our detailed client questionnaire and follow up with an in-depth discussion about how you see your dreams expressed in place and what you'd like your future life to look like.
This is, of course, an on-going process and achieving our goals presents us with the pursuit of a steadily shifting target, so we train you in a number of different goals articulation strategies so that you might creatively use and respond to inevitable change. Here's a brief overview of a few of our goals articulation approaches.
The bedrock of our design lies in client goals. You provide us with your vision, skills, resources, and reservations. And these goals help to frame the way we examine the site. In some cases, client goals may be simplistic and straightforward, but more often than not, they present some of the most challenging introspective work in the entire process. We review your responses to our detailed client questionnaire and follow up with an in-depth discussion about how you see your dreams expressed in place and what you'd like your future life to look like.
This is, of course, an on-going process and achieving our goals presents us with the pursuit of a steadily shifting target, so we train you in a number of different goals articulation strategies so that you might creatively use and respond to inevitable change. Here's a brief overview of a few of our goals articulation approaches.
Site Analysis and Assessment
And equally important in any ecological design process is an in-depth analysis and understanding of the realities of each unique site. In adhering to permaculture's threefold ethic, we believe that we also represent the needs, resources, and constraints posed by the landscape, and we are quick to acknowledge when a client's vision may not well square with the potential of their site.
We invest considerable energy in uncovering the fundamental characteristics of each site. Employing the use of satellite imagery and GIS datasets alongside detailed on-site observation, we work to understand the complexities and overall context of your landscape from the macro to the micro. To help guide and frame our analysis, we follow PA Yeomans' Scale of Permanence, ensuring we spend ample time getting to know as much about the features and processes at work as possible.
We create a series of maps that help to tell 'the story of the site'. What's the underlying geology and soils? Where does water flow and collect? Where and how do people, wildlife and resources move across the landscape? How has the built environment expressed itself and where could it be improved? How might we respond to the climate and the unique microclimates affecting our experience of the place? Are there potential pollution sources or other challenges we should be aware of and look to ameliorate? These are just a few of the questions we seek answers to in developing detailed maps and reports about the on-site conditions as they currently stand.
At this point, we still haven't begun to actually 'design'. But we find that by devoting ample time to this fundamental research and observation, we carefully poise ourselves to develop designs that reflect a pattern based understanding of people and place.
And equally important in any ecological design process is an in-depth analysis and understanding of the realities of each unique site. In adhering to permaculture's threefold ethic, we believe that we also represent the needs, resources, and constraints posed by the landscape, and we are quick to acknowledge when a client's vision may not well square with the potential of their site.
We invest considerable energy in uncovering the fundamental characteristics of each site. Employing the use of satellite imagery and GIS datasets alongside detailed on-site observation, we work to understand the complexities and overall context of your landscape from the macro to the micro. To help guide and frame our analysis, we follow PA Yeomans' Scale of Permanence, ensuring we spend ample time getting to know as much about the features and processes at work as possible.
We create a series of maps that help to tell 'the story of the site'. What's the underlying geology and soils? Where does water flow and collect? Where and how do people, wildlife and resources move across the landscape? How has the built environment expressed itself and where could it be improved? How might we respond to the climate and the unique microclimates affecting our experience of the place? Are there potential pollution sources or other challenges we should be aware of and look to ameliorate? These are just a few of the questions we seek answers to in developing detailed maps and reports about the on-site conditions as they currently stand.
At this point, we still haven't begun to actually 'design'. But we find that by devoting ample time to this fundamental research and observation, we carefully poise ourselves to develop designs that reflect a pattern based understanding of people and place.
Design Concept
We approach design incrementally, proceeding from 'patterns to details'. The design concept is essentially a bubble diagram. It indicates relative placement, scale, and relationships between different land use practices and elements. It is a direct result of our observations and interpretations during the site analysis process. And it's a manifestation of permaculture's principle of Relative Location which essentially states, "for an element to function properly, we need to put it in the right place".
We're not worried about specifics. That comes later. The design concept gives us a chance to receive feedback from our client, and adjust accordingly before proceeding to more detailed drafting.
We approach design incrementally, proceeding from 'patterns to details'. The design concept is essentially a bubble diagram. It indicates relative placement, scale, and relationships between different land use practices and elements. It is a direct result of our observations and interpretations during the site analysis process. And it's a manifestation of permaculture's principle of Relative Location which essentially states, "for an element to function properly, we need to put it in the right place".
We're not worried about specifics. That comes later. The design concept gives us a chance to receive feedback from our client, and adjust accordingly before proceeding to more detailed drafting.
Schematic Development
With our design concept fleshed out, we draft several 'schematics' which add more detail to the concept's broad brushstrokes. We generally create anywhere from two to four different schematics, allowing us to try various configurations and consider the implications of each. It's in this variety that we often confirm productive relationships and expose those that may present problems down the line. Often our master plan/detailed design emerges as a synthesis of individual parts of different schematics.
With our design concept fleshed out, we draft several 'schematics' which add more detail to the concept's broad brushstrokes. We generally create anywhere from two to four different schematics, allowing us to try various configurations and consider the implications of each. It's in this variety that we often confirm productive relationships and expose those that may present problems down the line. Often our master plan/detailed design emerges as a synthesis of individual parts of different schematics.
Master Plan, Detailed Design and Phase Planning
The master plan or detailed design is exactly that - a road map to the implementation of the design. Clients will usually have unique individual needs. These master plans may include planting plans to scale or a general pattern and layout and species list. It really is a matter of your specific needs and goals. But this is the point where the entire process coalesces into a snapshot of what the site could ultimately become.
And equally important to the long-term manifestation of the design is the stages and phases of implementation to make the design a reality. We balance budget, skills, seasonal constraints and the optimal order of operations to help frame a systematic implementation of the design over time. This is often expressed as targets for Years 1-3, 3-5, 5-10, +… It's the phase plan that helps ensure we reach the most important part of our process - implementation.
The master plan or detailed design is exactly that - a road map to the implementation of the design. Clients will usually have unique individual needs. These master plans may include planting plans to scale or a general pattern and layout and species list. It really is a matter of your specific needs and goals. But this is the point where the entire process coalesces into a snapshot of what the site could ultimately become.
And equally important to the long-term manifestation of the design is the stages and phases of implementation to make the design a reality. We balance budget, skills, seasonal constraints and the optimal order of operations to help frame a systematic implementation of the design over time. This is often expressed as targets for Years 1-3, 3-5, 5-10, +… It's the phase plan that helps ensure we reach the most important part of our process - implementation.
Implementation and Feedback
Our designs begin to take shape during implementation. We are available to assist clients in sourcing materials, locating contractors, managing the project, and developing metrics to measure success. And it's in the implementation that we ultimately realize the cyclical nature of the design process. We're never 'done'. We simply embark upon the next iteration.
We help train our clients to receive feedback as their designs develop. And this feedback helps guide future iterations of this working master plan. We hope that in assisting you craft a design that matches your visions and needs to the unique qualities of your site, we empower you to embrace the role of designer, and continually tweak and reshape the plan on into the future.
Click here to start the conversation and let us know how we can help you in your process.
Our designs begin to take shape during implementation. We are available to assist clients in sourcing materials, locating contractors, managing the project, and developing metrics to measure success. And it's in the implementation that we ultimately realize the cyclical nature of the design process. We're never 'done'. We simply embark upon the next iteration.
We help train our clients to receive feedback as their designs develop. And this feedback helps guide future iterations of this working master plan. We hope that in assisting you craft a design that matches your visions and needs to the unique qualities of your site, we empower you to embrace the role of designer, and continually tweak and reshape the plan on into the future.
Click here to start the conversation and let us know how we can help you in your process.