Landscape Architecture2024-07-11T13:58:41+01:00

Landscape Architecture

World Class Design

CGLA has over 30 years of experience in creating exceptional Commercial Landscapes, including; mixed-use developments, civic plazas, parks, institutional and commercial landscapes, corporate headquarters and larger residential developments. We demonstrate through our designs that outstanding Landscape Architecture both adds value to people’s lives and is commercially rational for our clients.

Our Clients

We have a prestigious client list including multi award winning private developers, premium house builders, world renowned architects, as part of a multidisciplinary team. We understand the complexities of larger commercial projects and are strong advocates for the inclusion of the public landscape as a means to achieve environmental, economic and social sustainability.

Design Solutions

Grounded in the realities of site practicalities and planning constraints, we nevertheless bring creativity to the design solutions. Whether shaping the outdoors to promote an active and healthy lifestyle, extending nearby building architecture to create a cohesive unified theme, or designing a public space that serves as a focal point for a community, CGLA design spaces for people’s lives.

planning support / biodiversity net gain

CGLA are experts in providing support for planning applications including pre-application submissions and landscaping conditions. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a crucial element for new-build developments, set to become mandatory from April 2024. This new legislation prompts us to integrate BNG assessments and calculations into our landscape design process. We can now offer a comprehensive, seamless, service to our clients embarking on new-build projects. There is more information about this on our insights page here.

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Commercial Projects

We design exceptional gardens, this includes; civic plazas, parks, institutional and commercial landscapes, corporate headquarters, master plans, and larger residential developments.

Our high-level conceptual approach blends both art and landscape design and strives to push the boundaries of what is typically perceived as landscape design and our creativity depends on challenging conventions that can limit the way we in which we look at spaces.

Design Process

Landscape Architecture involves a diverse range of design consideration.   The client’s brief and social, cultural, environmental and economic factors all interact to produce the context of a space.  We specialise in a collaborative approach and encourage open and transparent dialogue amongst different stakeholders.

Each design process begins with in-depth studies of the environmental, ecological, social, historical and cultural conditions to understand the broader context within the existing urban framework. This ensures that our designs are not just creative, but highly functional and sustainable for the long term.

Design Solutions

Our design expertise enables us to be flexible in our creativity while conforming to a proven approach. Our design solutions include:

  • Discharge of planning conditions
  • Landscape design
  • Hardscape design
  • Planting design
  • Water feature design
  • Lighting design
  • Artwork and sculpture design

Implementation Support

As an integrated practice, our Landscape Architecture team benefit from the in-house expertise of our award winning landscaping team, making us able to provide budgets, full costings and value-engineering support on our projects. We are known as problem solvers, and can take the project right through to construction with ongoing project monitoring and support.

“I have been using Cool Gardens Landscape Associates for the last few years now on our private client developments. We have been very impressed with their concepts and implementation of the clients brief into formal designs. I look forward to the next collaborative project in the near future”.

FAQs

Can you create Biodiversity Net Gain Plans for planning purposes?2024-07-10T13:24:14+01:00

Yes we can! For more information on this do have a look at our article here

What will it cost to build my garden?2024-07-10T09:28:14+01:00

We have several articles on this subject (see links below). The upshot is that we have a unique process aimed at heading this problem off at the pass!

  • Have a frank discussion about budget and process, sharing “ballparks” for similar projects (see cost to landscape article).
  • Once started, we design to suit your brief, cost that as soon as it is practical to do so, and allow for the time to value-engineer and adjust the designs to optimise the budget
  • Final outputs are prepared to suit the value-engineered design, and once this is complete, you are welcome to obtain quotes for the work from your choice of suppliers.

An overview of the design process is here and feel free to browse our “insights” pages for more information or call us for a chat!

Why have I got to pay a health and safety charge?2024-05-07T11:52:14+01:00

Even on small landscaping projects it is a legal requirement that the relevant risk assessments are carried out prior to commencement. Larger site requirements are more stringent, with regular checks, talks, and detailed record keeping. It is your responsibility as the home-owner to ensure this is done not the contractors, so in taking this on for you with a qualified Health and Safety professional we are ensuring that you are covered.

Will I need garden maintenance and how much will that cost?2024-05-07T11:51:44+01:00

You might- it depends really on the plan, your ambitions for the garden and how it will be kept, and your willingness to do some of the work yourselves. Think of it as for a house- if you are happy to run and clean your own home you don’t need a cleaner, but many of us do employ others to help because we are busy and have other priorities.

The cost is dependent on many variables, but a professional garden maintenance operative is typically £25-35 per hour (plus VAT if registered) in the Home Counties, and a mid sized garden might want 4 hours a week to cover basic mowing and plant care?

Can I have just a bit of my garden done or do I have to do it all in one go?2024-05-07T11:51:08+01:00

You can have whatever you want done at a time to suit you! However if you do have a larger schedule of works in mind it is worth discussing in detail with your landscapers as it may be more expensive to carry out in a particular order, or you may have to lift/destroy some of your completed works to carry out other works if not planned properly.

If you have other questions feel free to contact us or see FAQS.

Projects

Education

Meet The Design Team

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