Establishing a brief

Principles of Garden Design

Establishing a Brief

The first step of any project is always to set the brief, and establish a set of criteria and principles that you can refer back to during the design process. These are entirely subjective, and should be deeply personal in order to guide you in creating a space that you can engage with meaningfully and enjoyably. Often, there will be contradictory criteria – and a brief will help you identify these early on, giving you the best chance of designing a space that can fulfil and balance them.

This set of objectives can also act as a roadmap that you will use it to plan at the beginning of your project, and can revisit throughout to remind yourself of your original thoughts and intentions.

Practicality

Function should be your first and foremost consideration. What do you need to include for the space to work? Aesthetics are important, but require a solid practical framework. How do you want to live there? And what is important to you?

Look

A brief can also have visual elements, images torn from magazines or pictures of public gardens you have visited and enjoyed. What mood do you want to create? How do you want to feel in your garden?

Circulation

Consider how you will move through the space. Is there a view you wish to see from the terrace? Do you want to watch the sunset from the vegetable garden? Using a diagram to establish specific areas around the site can be helpful in visualising how you might move through it.

Time

Establishing how much time you have available to spend on the space is key. not only during the development period, but also the time you want to spend maintaining it. Do you want to do it alone? Or will you factor in additional help?

Establishing a Brief

Examples of criteria you may have in your brief

Somewhere to enjoy in the evenings | Greenhouse

Herb garden | I want to garden alone

Orchard | Space to eat outside

A quick project | Area for childeren to play

I will have assistance | Romantic feeling

An engaging, challenging space | A place to think quietly

Shaded patio | Predominantly green

Low maintenance | Vegetable garden

Colourful | A long-term commitment

Shed | Coffee in the morning sun

Your Assignment

Now to set your own brief. You can use the following pages for brainstorms, lists, diagrams, or whatever helps you plan and create.

Brainstorm