18 Contractors/Designers
COLLABORATIVELY: T
Landscape Architect & Landscape Contractor Relationships From the point of view of a landscape architect,
he ingredients for the completion of a successful landscape project ought not to be particularly challenging. If the client’s brief
has been fully understood; the design, scope of works and specification developed accordingly; and the landscape contractor selected via a balanced, open and fair tender process; what, thereafter, can possibly go wrong? Personal experience has shown in so many instances that perhaps the relationship between the landscape architect and the landscape contractor is not as robust as it might have been. The majority of landscape architects pride themselves on their abilities as excellent leaders, coordinators and collaborators of or within construction teams. However, it seems that these skills do not always transfer to one of the most important relationships within every landscape construction project; the engagement with the landscape contractor who has been employed to realise the landscape architect’s design on behalf of the client. This relationship is of fundamental importance to the success of every project. For the landscape architect, the landscape con-
tractor can make or break the final, and most imp- ortant, piece of the jigsaw in any commission. Equally, an uncooperative landscape architect can leave the contractor with all sorts of dilemmas and un- answered questions. Thus, it is just as important to communicate fully and openly with your contractor as it is with your client and other professionals on the team. This is, of course, a two-way process. Experience has shown that quite often the
contractor has somehow been viewed in a capacity of lesser importance than others on the project, which will always prove to be an enormous error on the part of those engendering such beliefs. Without due respect between the parties, so many things could go very badly awry.
| October 2011 | Volume1 | Issue2
it is vitally important that, having understood the client’s brief, this knowledge is imparted whole- heartedly to the contractor. The more detailed the scope of works, and the more encouraging one is to open lines of communication (beyond the limitations of email contact and written contract documents alone), the more likely the project will be completed to everyone’s satisfaction and ultimately in that much sort after atmosphere of mutual trust and goodwill. Why anyone should believe that the contractor stands in any way outside this fundamental part of the relationship is incomprehensible.
UTTERLY CONTEMPTIBLE From the position of landscape contractor, to be kept at arms length and engaged with only at times of difficulty or concern is not only demeaning but utterly contemptible. The exchange of knowledge and ideas between designers and contractors, particularly at times when ‘mother nature’ has intervened in the project programme is always invaluable and face-to-face communication will guarantee a better understanding of the issues involved and how they might best be resolved for the benefit of everyone – not least the satisfactory end result of the project in hand. Working closely on-site with the contractor, the landscape architect will be able to improve and hone their design skills with a better understanding of the more practical aspects of landscape operations. Thus, armed with such knowledge any future designs and specifications will be all the better for it. Vice-versa, the contractor will perhaps get a better perspective on the designer’s original design intent and approach the implementation of the detail in a manner slightly different from their original
ABOUT NIGEL THORNE
Nigel Thorne MSc FRSA FLI PPLI
Consultant Landscape Architect
President, European Federation for Landscape Architecture (EFLA)
Vice-president (Europe), International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA)
Past-president, Landscape Institute (LI, UK)
Nigel is a chartered landscape architect (a Fellow of the Landscape Institute) specialising in landscape management. He practices as an independent landscape consultant concentrating on contract administration and project implementation but also works part- time for the award-winning practice of Rummey Design based in London, UK. Having served the Landscape Institute (UK) in a variety of elected posts, he played an instrumental role in how the LI approached its work in higher education, careers promotion and the professional practice examination. He was elected president of the European Federation for Landscape Architecture at the beginning of 2010. He works and teaches both nationally and internationally and regularly gives talks, seminars and lectures in order to promote the work of the profession around the world.
www.pro-landscaper.co.uk
WORKING
interpretation. Again, it is a two-way learning process, which neither party should be afraid of but rather should encourage in order to promote best- practice on behalf of a joined-up profession. Needless to say, the only thing that is ‘rocket science’ is indeed, rocket science…
Nigel Thorne
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52