top of page
Writer's pictureAlison Johnston

Anatomy of a master plan

Updated: Oct 16

So if we have a nice drawing of the new design, how do we then move to the build phase? To make sure that we build the new garden accurately, a masterplan is needed. Some would argue that a garden can be built from a concept drawing, but it still leaves some interpretation for the contractor to get the details right, such as path widths, step heights and bespoke structures. These drawings take the guesswork out and help contractors accurately quote for the project, so quotes from different contractors will be directly comparable.


A masterplan is the next series of drawings which communicate how to build the chosen design, so includes technical details like levels, dimensions, quantities and details about specific materials. Let's look at some typical drawings within this set.



This overview drawing details the features and materials of the new design to scale, so you can see how it all works together. In some cases the specific products are listed, sometimes clients perfer to choose some elements themselves, such as the shed in this plan.






The 'Layout' plan shows key dimensions on site. This enables the construction team to mark out the new features accurately.









The 'Levels' page provides a breakdown of the design's elevations, illustrating the varying heights of elements like pavement, walls, stairs, and other constructions. It displays both current and proposed elevations to clarify the areas requiring groundwork.








Cross sections are also used to communicate the relative heights across the site.










I can include construction drawings of built structures such as raised beds, pergolas and patios. These highly detailed drawings facilitate all the garden elements to be built to exact specification taking into account site characteristics. In this instance, the client and her husband were intending to build some aspects of the garden themselves so asked for drawings that they would be able to follow.


Every project is tailored to the clients specific needs, so can include all or some of these drawings.

11 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page