First things first: all great backyard design begins with the broad concept

Pool & Spa News, June 18, 2004 by Rebecca Robledo

Think about some of the most impressive spaces you've ever experienced. In the best backyards, you don't even notice the individual features right away. You just see this incredible cohesiveness and life.

You won't get that sense from the travertine pavers imported from Europe or meticulously milled glass tiles. Those facets are crucial--they deepen your sense of wonderment--but the first thing most people notice, perhaps subconsciously, is how the yard is organized.

"When everything flows together, it means that somebody has paid attention to the whole picture," says landscape designer Rick Anderson, owner of Whispering Crane Institute in Canal Fulton, Ohio. "They have not focused in on little details until it's time to focus in on little details."

It's easy to get mired in the specifics before it's time. But experts say those things can wait.

"I've seen people lose sight of the big picture, and that's where things really fall apart," Anderson says. "Many focus on where the steps in the pool go instead of looking at how all these parts relate to each other."

Keeping perspective

Orchestrating the big picture is a job in itself. Landscape professionals devote a whole step to it called the schematic phase. At this point, they don't necessarily worry about the exact size of the different components.

Anderson encourages pool designers to use bubble diagrams or similar devices to determine the site's layout. Bubble diagrams, used in landscape schools, are cursory maps: A circle here might denote the deck, while a line there shows the raised planter wall and a free-form squiggle designates the lawn.

Do the sketch after you've seen the site and spoken with the clients about what they want. You can start by sketching a base drawing that maps the existing elements and notes information such as elevation changes, or where the yard will receive full sun or shade. You can make several copies and work on it as your concept evolves.

Next, plot where the pool, decking, patios, barbecues, fireplaces and other components will go. Landscape professionals work fast at this stage to save time and free up mental blocks. If you force yourself to work quickly, chances are, your perfectionism can't slow you down.

Expect to do these rough renderings again and again. Landscape architect Lila Fendrich will use a tablet and sketch one sheet after the other until she settles on the right layout. Anderson will keep using the same sheet, lightly penciling over previous versions. He'll simply draw over what he doesn't like in darker pencil. Both ways let you see how the project has progressed.

Take note of logistical issues. For instance, will you have enough decking and room for traffic? Will smoke from the barbecue fly away from swimmers? In addition, how will it feel to transition from one spot to another, and how does the scale of the pool and waterfeatures relate to other main components?

At this phase, you don't have to finalize details. Don't bother sketching in brick or flagstone patterns, or deciding on the coping. Just concentrate on putting everything in its place.

If you're assembling an especially complex backyard, you can create a model to help visualize how it will look. These aren't the expensive, intricately built models that you would create for a client, says landscape architect William Madden, an associate at Gregory Lombardi Design Inc. in Cambridge, Mass.

Make models out of cardboard, chip board, paper of whatever comes in handy. They don't even need to be colored in at this stage. Sometimes the designers at Lombardi will make their preliminary models all white just so they can concentrate on the big picture.

Models provide a 3-D perspective and help you see elevation changes. You can also toy with ideas for waterfeatures, pools or planter beds. To do this, Lombardi's company will build its models to accommodate interchangeable features. For instance, models of two waterfeatures can slide in and out of the same spot so designers can choose the best one for the project.

With these tips in mind, it should be easier to bring that big picture into focus--and create the breathtaking aquascapes your clients desire.

Rebecca Robledo Robledo is a senior editor at Pool & Spa News. A 14-year industry veteran, she specializes in design and construction.