DESIGN BRIEF FOR MR AND MRS SMITH’S BACK GARDEN

1.0 BRIEF FROM CLIENT:

- The Smiths are a recently retired couple, early 60’s, have two children who have left home and live
in different parts of the UK, no grandchildren. They have no pets.
- Have lived at no. 52 for the last 25 years, and have not changed the garden since they moved in
except adding a shed for general storage and gardening equipment. They want the existing shed
and storage area to remain.
- They expect to live at no. 52 for approx. next 15 years.
- Garden has been well used by their growing family but now they want a complete redesign to fit in
with their retirement lifestyle.
- Both are active, like being outside, enjoy being in the sun.
- The Smiths particularly enjoy having a drink in their garden at the end of the day in the summer.
- They would also like to have somewhere to sit in the shade with a few friends after lunch during
the height of the summer.
- Both are keen to do more gardening in their retirement, say 5 hours a week, generally interested
in plants and want to learn more.
- They are conscious of what they eat, enjoy cooking and want to grow their own vegetables. An
allotment of 10 sq m is agreed.
- They both have an active social life and would like to have an outdoor social area where they can
entertain their friends in the afternoon between spring and autumn. This area would also include a
dining table for up to eight people and a built-in barbeque.
- They would also like a larger area where they can put up a temporary gazebo/canopy for bigger
social events such as birthdays and anniversaries. They have seen a 4 x 4 m sail shade that they like
the look of.
- The Smiths are quite design-conscious and want ‘something different with a bit of a wow-factor’.
They are open to the addition of a water feature, they like the sound of running water which
would help muffle the sound of the traffic.
- There are no particular plants that they want to keep and do not mind if the apple tree is removed,
though they would like to see their collection of blue ceramic pots included in the design.
- They would like to keep the hedge at the end of the garden.
- The Smiths have six 1500 mm long seats in a modern design. These seats are currently in storage
and they would like them used in the new design.
- The Smiths like the enclosure of the garden especially the tall plants on the east boundary, though
the lower planting along this boundary can be removed.
- The fence on the west boundary is owned by the neighbours and the Smiths would like the
planting in front of the fence replaced. The other boundary fences are to remain.
- They want to keep the rotary clothes drier but located in a less prominent area.
- The Smiths mention that the area in front of the house can get soggy in winter
- An uncovered storage area for garden waste and supplies, and a compost area is needed. An area
of 4 sq m is agreed.
- The Smiths have a construction budget of around £25,000 for the back garden.

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