Providing Landscape Architecture services for residential clients across the United States, KDC Associates has had the privelage of completing designs for well over 3,000 properties. Our award winning residential work reflects the dreams of our clients, and range from simple planting design to the master planning of multi-million dollar residential landscapes.
In designing some of the most exclusive residential properties in the Southwest, KDC Associates has representative projects in over one-third of the counties in Texas, as well as in New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Louisianna, Iowa, Washington, Arizona, Mexico, and Canada.
The ability of KDC Associates to fully integrate various design fields allows us to serve our residential clients from initial conceptual sketches through construction drawings, construction observation services, and the reality of a well designed and well built projects.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
KDC Associates
4400 N. Big Spring, Suite 203
Midland, Texas 79705
info@kdcassociates.com
fax: 432.683.3487
phone: 432.686.8001
Q: Who are Landscape Architects and do I really need one?
Similar to Architects, Landscape Architects are State licensed design professionals who have graduated from a 5-6 year accredited university degree program. Once graduated, a degreed individual must serve an internship with a registered Landscape Architect prior to taking a 40-50 hour registration exam. Only when all these requirements are met will the State grant the title of Landscape Architect. In the State of Texas, there are fewer than 1,500 active and practicing Landcape Architects. This field of study blends the artof architecture with the sciences of civil engineering and horticulture.
Not all residential projects need a Landscape Architect. Generally speaking, the more critical it is for the homeowner to utilize hardscape elements such as buildings, structures, paving, and water features, the more critical it is to have a Landscape Architect working with you. Most nurseries can provide adequate planting design for beds. When a master plan is needed, or construction plans are involved, the education and experience of a Landscape Architect will be most beneficial. Swimmng pool contractors are in the business to sell you swimming pools. Nurseries want to sell you plants. We are interested in the function and aesthetics of design.
Q: When we decide we want to hire KDC, what is next?
Once an appointment has been scheduled, we urge our clients to look through magazines and books to research what design styles they prefer as well as styles that they don't particularly care for. For example- formal vs. informal. It is critical that our designs reflect the unique taste of the client.
Q: How much will this cost?
Many residential plans can be accomplished in as little as twelve hours, but more involved design work can take many times that. In order to save some money, clients can provide us with a scaled and accurate survey of their property. This will alleviate time otherwise spent measuring the site. We will be glad to discuss with you what type of time and financial committment we feel your particular design will warrant.
Q: What will your typical plans show?
Plans generated by our office typically fall into two categories:
1) Conceptual Plans
2) Construction Drawings
Conceptual plans are just that...they show a conceptual idea of what a site could develop into. Conceptual plans will show spatial layouts and ciruculation patterns, relative location of hardscape elements in relation to planting areas, and rough placement of plant material. Conceptual plans are generally the first step in developing a full set of drawings, but clients often find that a good conceptual plan is all that they need. Once the ideas have been generated and shown graphically, many clients feel comfortable with handling the layout and installation themselves. A conceptual plan is not meant to be bid out to contractors, nor show the methods, means, and quantities needed for construction by anyone other than the homeowner.
Construction drawings are technical drawings which shows the scaled and accurated layout of all elements necessary for a project to be built. Construction drawings are very similar to the plans an architect would generate to have a house built. They show the specific materials, methods, means, and quantities necessary for a landscape to be constructed. Additionally, sealed construction drawings can be advertised and bid out by qualified area contractors. The more involved your particular project is, the more you will need a good set of construction drawings.
Q: Can your office help us finding qualified contractors?
KDC Associates will only recommend the highest quality landscape or construction contractor available. We can provide you with names and numbers of proven contractors who are noted for their quaility as well as reliability and follow-thru.
Q: Can KDC Associates serve as our contractor?
KDC Associates is a professional design office. We do not provide construction or contracting services.
Q: What is a Master Plan?
Many of our residential clients request a long-range plan that graphically shows an overall picture of how a site will develop. These are called "Master Plans" and are extremely popular as they indicate how the elements of a property will relate with each other once the plan has been completed. Some clients complete their master plans in a few months, many others complete the plan over a span of several years. This type of plan enables a client to spread out the financial impact of a construction project over a long period of time. The initial expenditure for design services for this type of plan is higher, but it is usually a one-time expense. Think of a master plan as a completed jig-saw puzzle. When the pieces are viewed individually, they are hard to interpret. When viewed as a whole, the intent of the picture is clear. Landscapes are the same way, and master planning is an excellent way to incorporate future design elements that cannot be initially installed due to financial or other reasons.
Common Residential Questions:
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