From the architect. In Velp, the Netherlands, a sustainable refurbishment and extension of a dilapidated 1950s villa has recently been completed. The villa is situated on the edge of National Park Veluwezoom, a nature reserve. The many small rooms of the original house have been reduced to a small amount of light and spacious spaces and a concrete extension with patio (atrium) was added to the house. Although the various living spaces are in open connection with each other, the separate rooms retain their own intimate atmosphere. The patio, the restricted use of partition walls, the larger windows and passageways allow natural light to penetrate into the home and show the sightlines of the various interior and exterior spaces; this makes that the spaces flow smoothly from one into the other. The concrete beam in the faade of the original house still defines the characteristics of the villa. Parallel with this beam is the underside of the new plant-covered concrete roof of the addition. The original concrete beam is only 2.3 meters high (from floor to underside of the beam), therefore the addition was partly built into the ground to create more height. This way the addition lies sunken in the garden and blends naturally with the surroundings. The split-level provides playfulness to the house; you can sit on the low concrete wall of the extension part in the garden and partly inside the house. They also provide a subtle distinction between the different spaces.
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Which Type of Landscape Contractor Is Best for My Project?If the scope of your landscaping project is small and straightforward, you don't need to hire a landscape contracting firm with vast experience and technical resources. You'd be buying more than you need for the scale of the project. If, however, your design plan calls for extensive hardscaping, water features, built structures, and specimen trees or plants, it is advisable that you choose your landscape contractor carefully. You will want to choose a company that has expertise in a range of construction techniques and maintains trained, industry certified staff to deliver high caliber workmanship and garden care. This is the best option to ensure the success of your landscaping investment. There are three basic approaches for choosing a landscaping contractor. You may:
Obviously, option one could work quite well in a situation where the project is scope is limited, and the design specifications are straightforward. For larger, more complex landscaping projects, options two or three would be the better choice by far. Getting Multiple Bids for Your Landscape ProjectIf you choose to go this route, it is important to understand that the success of your landscaping project depends on how well the team members communicate with each other: that is, the project designers, construction crew leaders and you, the client. The concept development and planning phase is led by your landscape designer. Once you've approved a project design plan, the designer guides you through the selections process to specify plants, hardscape materials, and equipment to be installed. Once all the products and materials are specified, your designer can produce detailed construction drawings for you to put out to bid with several landscaping contractors. Landscape designers usually recommend a favored contractor, one whom they feel understands their designs and can produce quality results. But the choice of landscaping contractor ultimately is yours to make. Choosing by Price Alone May Cause RegretsAll landscaping projects are estimated by the cost of materials plus labor calculated in man hours. The site plan created by your landscape designer will have specified all construction details, plants, and building materials needed to complete the project. If all the contractors are bidding on the same plan and specifications, why would one of them come back with a significantly lower price? There could be several reasons for this-and none of them bode well for you. What's Behind the Low Bid
The project estimate you receive is only as good as the thoroughness of the landscape contractor who prepared it. What to Expect from Your Landscape Construction Contractor1 Project Management 2 Communication 3 Contract Details Checklist
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January 2019
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