
Read the Site Before You Draw
A field guide to read the site before you draw: observing sun, water, wind and views over several days, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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Shape coherent, comfortable spaces that respond to the site.

A field guide to read the site before you draw: observing sun, water, wind and views over several days, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to design the garden from the windows: framing scenes from the rooms used most often, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to design natural garden circulation: linking uses with direct, comfortable and properly sized routes, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to place a focal point without freezing the view: drawing the eye while leaving several discoveries in sequence, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to organise a garden into useful zones: sizing every zone for how often it is used and how it relates to the house, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to get scale and proportion right in a garden: comparing furniture, planting and built volumes with human-scale references, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to design a sloping garden with the land: turning the slope into measured terraces instead of relying on major earthworks, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to create privacy without enclosing the garden: filtering views at the necessary height with several light layers, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to design a garden exposed to wind: slowing gusts with permeable screens and layered planting, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to plan a north-facing garden: reserving bright areas for priority uses and making cool shade an asset, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to design a south-facing garden: planning shade, water reserves and surfaces that do not overheat, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to design a garden for the whole family: layering play, dining and rest without sacrificing clarity, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to plan a pet-friendly garden: securing boundaries and plants while preserving genuine room to explore, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to make a garden easy to access: reducing barriers with gentle slopes, stable surfaces and well-placed resting points, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to prepare an outdoor lighting plan: lighting uses and level changes without turning night into permanent scenery, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to build a garden in phases without losing the plan: fixing levels, services and structure before finishes, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to choose a coherent material palette: limiting finishes and connecting them to the existing architecture, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to measure a garden without missing key details: recording diagonals, levels, services and retained features before sketching, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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A field guide to write a useful brief for a garden designer: expressing uses, constraints, budget and priorities instead of a list of objects, followed by checks for the details that determine success.
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