Level 3: Detailed garden design
The Level 3 Detailed Design provides a detailed blueprint you can work with to implement your design. The process is the same as for my Level 2 Concept Design Service, the only difference being the level of detail provided about the plants. The full design includes ALL plants in the site, so also incorporates detailed plant listings in the associated report.
Just like the Level 2 service, the Level 3 Detailed Design Service builds on the Level 1 Preliminary Design Service. After providing preliminary concept sketches, adjustments and refinements can be made according to your feedback, including additional concept sketching as needed. I then draw up the final, to-scale detailed design, that takes all of our discussions into account.
The process for the full garden design service is the same as for the Level 2 service, only the level of detail in the design is different. The higher starting cost reflects the greater amount of time needed to itemise every single plant in the design and the preparation of detailed plant lists for the accompanying report.
Service summary:
Approximate cost range: $1700 to $2900 urban / (not applicable for nearby rural)
Why costs are presented as a range rather than a set fee for this service
Like the Level 2 design service, the Level 3 Detailed Design Service is much more variable than the preliminary design option. Factors that affect the cost include:
Next steps
With a detailed design you are well equipped to start implementing your design.
If you need assistance with landscaping, please note that Canberra Permaculture Design does not directly offer a landscaping service (my arms are not nearly muscly enough to give you good value for money!) but I can provide assistance with project management or working directly with your landscaper to ensure they 'get' the ideas behind the design.
Just like the Level 2 service, the Level 3 Detailed Design Service builds on the Level 1 Preliminary Design Service. After providing preliminary concept sketches, adjustments and refinements can be made according to your feedback, including additional concept sketching as needed. I then draw up the final, to-scale detailed design, that takes all of our discussions into account.
The process for the full garden design service is the same as for the Level 2 service, only the level of detail in the design is different. The higher starting cost reflects the greater amount of time needed to itemise every single plant in the design and the preparation of detailed plant lists for the accompanying report.
Service summary:
- 2 hour garden consultation session with you
- Site analysis drawing
- Preliminary concept sketch
- 2 hour follow up consultation session presenting ideas, explaining permaculture rationale for elements and their placement, refining design based on feedback.
- To-scale concept design
- To-scale earthworks plan (if needed)
- 10-15 page explanatory report including plant lists and advice (or detailed step-by-step implementation report if required)
- 2 hour final consultation discussing final design and rationale
Approximate cost range: $1700 to $2900 urban / (not applicable for nearby rural)
Why costs are presented as a range rather than a set fee for this service
Like the Level 2 design service, the Level 3 Detailed Design Service is much more variable than the preliminary design option. Factors that affect the cost include:
- Whether you already have a site plan of your property. If you do, that's great and costs will be lower - I can use this as the basis of my drawings, especially if you're able to send me an electronic copy. If not, then I will need to measure up your property and generate a CAD model of your garden. This usually takes around 2 to 3 additional hours of my time (longer for rural properties). If you're keen to minimise your costs, you can measure up your property yourself, though unless you want to draw it up to scale yourself, I'll still need to generate a CAD base drawing.
- The size of the area to be designed
- Whether your block is a regular rectangular shape or full of unusual angles. Irregular shaped properties (such as the one pictured) take longer to measure and draw up accurately.
- Whether you opted for more than one concept sketch. Concept sketches are a cost-effective way to explore a range of design options on your property and additional ones can be drawn up for $140 each.
- Whether your design includes suggested earthworks. I look for ways to passively harvest water in my designs, so sometimes recommend changes to the slope of your land. If we need to measure out relevant contours for potential earthworks and then draw this up as part of your design, this will add another few hours to the job. If you have recently had building work done, you may already have a contour survey of your land, which is great for this. If I do recommend significant earthworks, a separate to-scale earthworks drawing will also be provided - there are too many elements to include earthworks and plantings on the same drawing. The standard accompanying report explains the principles of any earthworks recommended.
- Whether you opt for the detailed implementation report. If the standard report is not enough detail for you, and you require step-by-step instructions on how to implement your garden, with plant lists and detailed guidance on every element, this will typically add about $500 to the cost.
Next steps
With a detailed design you are well equipped to start implementing your design.
If you need assistance with landscaping, please note that Canberra Permaculture Design does not directly offer a landscaping service (my arms are not nearly muscly enough to give you good value for money!) but I can provide assistance with project management or working directly with your landscaper to ensure they 'get' the ideas behind the design.