Welcome To Our First Issue!

Hi!

Welcome to the first issue of our blog.

We are the Outdoor Society, a Melbourne based Landscaping company, and we specialise in the design and construction of outdoor spaces in Melbourne, South East Melbourne, Bayside Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula.

This year has certainly been an interesting one, and it also has us reflecting on what is important. It has been a good time for re-evaluation of how we live, reimagining and utilising more purposefully what has always been there. We know many of you are looking at your outdoor spaces and asking the question, how can this area be better utilised to enhance our lifestyle?

My name is Adam Marsal, owner of Outdoor Society, and we have been helping clients create amazing outdoor spaces that truly enhance their individual needs for many years.

Just for a moment, close your eyes and think about a space you enjoy, that makes you feel good.

It can be something very simple, and that is all it needs to be – to invoke a sense, a feeling, an emotion within you.

Encapsulating that connection and feeling within a space is the crucial element to the success of a project. This is what we would associate with Biophilia, which is, as humans we have an innate tendency to seek connection with nature and other forms of life.

Biophilic Design underpins, in principal, an approach to achieving this in design and construction of the spaces we occupy, be that a building or outdoor space. We will cover this topic in its own article in the coming months as there are many fascinating aspects to consider.

As professional landscapers, we live and breathe design, architecture, outdoor and indoor spaces, every day. As a builder and designer, the most important aspect for me personally, is knowing that our clients understand our approach to how we build and why.

Our why is really simple, to build spaces that last the test of time.

We understand the importance of knowledge and taking the time to educate our clients in all the key considerations of a project, allowing our clients to develop a true sense and understanding of their project, thus empowering well informed decisions.

Process is everything in a successful project, and that is our approach.

This blog is our extension of that education, providing you with useful, quality, trusted information to apply in preparation of your project. You can expect to find:

• Expertise
• Knowledge
• Information
• Discussions
• Hints and Tips

Across

• Design
• Landscape
• Pools
• Building
• Living and Lifestyle
• Project Management

The content will be delivered to you by the team at Outdoor Society, our experts, professional trades, specialists, and suppliers from across the industries.

Please enjoy our first issue!

 

 

DESIGN

 

How to Prepare for a Landscaping Project – Important Considerations

Written by Adam Marsal

30 June 2020

 

EXCITEMENT is one of the strongest feelings at the inception of an idea, that manifests into what becomes an undertaking into a landscaping project to create a space.

A project is a relationship and should be treated as such. It will embody many feelings, both positive and negative and will try and test our resolve. As professional landscapers, our commitment, experience and understanding are the determining factors on how successfully we navigate the process from concept to completion.

Operating a successful company in building and design of spaces teaches you a thing or two in how to best deliver a space for a client, and to shape that journey. It is easy to take for granted what we have come to develop over many years. For us we can stand in a space, listen to our clients and easily begin to craft a visualisation and understanding of the potential project.

There are two primary considerations of a project, and each require time to communicate their intentions and requirements.

1. The Client
2. The Space

Consideration of these should be holistic to allow the greatest perspective of all the influencing factors.

Here are our guidelines undertaking a project to create a clear and concise vision

For more information on the design process please follow this link 

 

 

PROJECT VISION STATEMENT

 

Get out your notebook, or open your laptop and document your project.

Maintain a clear direction with your project

•  A short description of your project

(One or two sentences should cover this)

 

Dot points will be your friend

 

• Whom is this space for?

• • • Individual
    • Family
    • Shared Space
    • Public

It is important to consider and discuss with all the intended parties and how they will use the space. Additionally, you can refer to this list to ensure you stick on your intended vision, and external influences don’t lead you away from this

 

• Intention of the space

• • • How this space is to be used
    • Functions the space NEEDS to provide
    • Secondary functions

 

• Spatial Evaluation and Holistic Approach

• • • Considerations of the current space and how this may affect the project
    • Existing elements that need to be incorporated or present complexities
    • Alternatives
    • List of items that ‘can be removed’ & ‘must stay’
    • Affected parties (neighbours, shared property etc)
    • How does this project fit into the larger vision of space (home) and what is your long term plan

 

 

COMMUNICATING YOUR VISION

 

Communicating your vision is critical, and needs to be articulated to involved parties for a project to be successful. Creating a visual medium of reference is a great way to begin shaping your thoughts on how the space will look and feel.

  

• Visual

Creating a visual medium of reference is a great way to communicate your vision on how the space will look and feel

• • • • Instagram, Houzz, Pinterest are all excellent sources of finding inspiration and allow the creation of collages and inspiration boards

 

• Written

Complementing the vision statement; articulating your style, preferences, nuances enhance the visual guide and provides a greater understanding

 

• • • • Completing a Design Client Questionnaire is particularly useful, as they methodically run through a checklist, covering all aspects associated with a design
        • • Style
          • Colours and textures
          • Features
          • Materials
          • Plants

For a Project Design Questionnaire please follow this link 

 

• • • • Documenting a list of dislikes, or considerations to not include is equally important in the communication process
        • • Allergies
          • Maintenance concerns
          • Colours and textures
          • Materials

 

 

SETTING YOUR EXPECTATIONS

 

At this stage a well formed and articulate vision of the project should be formulated, which is open to change as the dynamics of the process evolve.

This is where it can become daunting and overwhelming for a client, depending on your level of experience. Focusing on this important step now, understanding and documenting the expectations. This will save a lot of heart ache as you continue further on the journey.

 

• Project Scale and Budget

The question that we all fear, HOW MUCH? The best advice I can offer hear is be Honest and Forthcoming in discussions; with yourself and others involved with the project.

 

• • • • A project can seem overwhelming;
        • • break it down into sections, dot point it out and work through it methodically

 

• • • • Set a budget with yourself (and other involved parties) as a starting point, and discuss your flexibilities;
        • • is the project able to be staged
          • what are the aspects of the project open to compromise

 

• • • • Be willing to discuss budget with suppliers, trades, and professionals.

Keeping the subject taboo can inhibit your research and investigation. Opening a dialogue can be of immense benefit for you, and the supplier/trade may have a wealth of information to ready to offer you if they understand your position.

Also sharing your scope with the supplier or trade further adds to this conversation and their buy in of interest to your project

• • • • Be realistic with your expectations and the project. A well thought out project with finishes will have a cost; if it does not fit the budget, you will have to look at a compromise. Your landscaper will be able to help you.

 

• • • • Plan for a contingency. The most well thought out and planned for project will still encounter an additional item that needs attention and likely some dollars. Being mindful of this and engaging in appropriate conversations with those involved will ensure a good outcome

 

• Do Your Research and Ask Questions

Understanding of your vision, communication will be helped by research of materials and elements to go into your project, and how to execute the project

 

• • • • Websites and google are fantastic tools to gather information and compile a list of relevant information.

*** Warning***  This can become overwhelming by the vast amount of available information, and what applies; don’t delve too far into the details, keep it light and on point in regards to your project

 

• • • • Selecting trades, professionals and suppliers are always a tricky one, get referrals, read reviews, read up on their previous projects.

Manage your relationships with involved parties, and build those relationships. They are they most important aspect, as they will be implementing your project.

The right team can deliver an outstanding project, and even save you money.

 

• • • • Engaging a professional builder will have an established network of trades and supplier they use and can trust; and generally only a phone call away for advice (something not available to the average consumer).

As an example, at Outdoor Society, we maintain an extensive range of timbers, paving, tiles, grout colour charts, cladding solutions; which we is a result of years of testing and experience. Products that we know and trust, have used on projects, and recommend.

 

• Understand the Build Process

The project is going to impact your life, the degree is relevant to many factors. Understanding this from the onset is crucial to establishing your expectations and the involved parties’ expectations, and setting up a framework of communication through the project

 

• • • • Establish the project completion ‘goal posts’ and ensure all parties understand what level of detail is expected
      • Understand, communicate and document the responsibilities of all parties including yourself
      • Know how your lifestyle will be affected and plan around this.

 

Following these steps and finding the right team to work with will have you on your way to a successful project;

 

For more information, or documents to assist with your project

Follow the link

Outdoorsociety.com.au

 

Happy Building!

Adam

 

Next Month’s Issue –

Living Big in Small Spaces

We look at getting the most out of your space, no matter the size.