L A N D S C A P E P O R T F O L I O

“Landscape design is an art, a science, but above all it should be beautiful, environmentally sensible and satisfy its intended use”.

B A C K R O U DBorn in Durban, South Africa, Neil Arde initially had dreams of designing and building golf courses when embarking on his National Diploma in Landscape Technology at the Durban Institute of Technology. However it was through his studies and working at a local garden centre/residential landscape firm in the early days, that he developed his love for creating urbangardens.

At the young age of 24 Neil decided to begin his own design and build firm. From humble beginnings the company grew to a staff compliment of 18 for installations only. Offering turnkey exterior solutions to high end residential customers became a niche service for his company. He is highly experienced in designing and developing gardens from bare soil building sites as well as re-developing tired, old and established gardens. Exposure to commercial landscapes has mainly involved office park developments as well as the odd lifestyle retail property. Neil is driven by solid design principles and will always be sympathetic to any underlying environmental conditions and where possible, will try and compliment the architecture of a building in which the landscape is positioned. Creating a certain mood or a stylised space is high up on the agenda when designing residential or even commercial landscapes and careful thought is always given to how the user will experience a landscape or space.

Neil is always looking for new career challenges and is undoubtedly passionate and knowledgeable of his chosen profession. His focus is always on the client and the greatest compliment received is when he has been able to convert a client who has little interest in gardens to one who cannot stop talking about their garden.

P R I N C I P L E S & V A L U E S• Sustainability

• Client Focussed

• Uniqueness

• Attention to Detail

• Commitment

• Creativity

• Timeliness

I N S P I R A T I O N SI try let nature predominate my thinking behind most designs. Apart from its ecological perfection, it also inspires me by its sheer simple beauty.

This comes in many ways such as its structure and form of plant species, balance of vegetation and other natural elements, textural contrasts, topography and natural contours of soil and slope, colour contrasts and so much more. If carefully studied, one can pick up incredible elements that can be used in a any landscape design to incredible effect.

It has to be said that I am equally inspired by human design. This can be found in everyday things from the beautiful lines in certain furniture pieces to iconic civil engineering and architectural works to industrial design such as contemporary factories that use steel and concrete. The list is endless. In my opinion, a good landscape designer is always looking at things with a ‘third’ eye and always looking at how beautiful work could be incorporated, adapted or used practically in a landscape or garden.

PROJECT PROFILEPROJECT PROFILEPROJECT PROFILEPROJECT PROFILE

During the initial client contact, some time is spent discussing the

needs and better understanding the project requirements

ON SITE CONSULTATIONON SITE CONSULTATIONON SITE CONSULTATIONON SITE CONSULTATIONAn accurate site survey is taken and ball-

park budgets are discussed

PROPOSAL PRESENTATIONPROPOSAL PRESENTATIONPROPOSAL PRESENTATIONPROPOSAL PRESENTATIONFinal design concept agreed upon and

timeframe of project delivery confirmed

PRE CONSTRUCTIONPRE CONSTRUCTIONPRE CONSTRUCTIONPRE CONSTRUCTIONSchedule of works supplied with

corresponding payments schedule

LANDSCAPE LANDSCAPE LANDSCAPE LANDSCAPE

CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION

The ground gets broken! This is where your

dreams becomes a reality

PROJECT PROJECT PROJECT PROJECT

COMPLETIONCOMPLETIONCOMPLETIONCOMPLETION

Walk through and sign off. Now

is the time to start enjoying

THE

PROCESS

Clean white contemporary pots are positioned at the back with stunning Yucca

filamentosa 'Color Guard‘ planted in them.

A dead space served as the front entrance to this lovely thatched seaside villa. It was

an awkward angled space that only a

circular design could of solved.

A curved water feature with striking jet sprays was built, which complimented the curvature of the dominant lawn grass circle.

To accommodate for the existing slope, I designed and built two circular terraced platforms, which gave the space an extra sense of depth and interest.

Cobbles were used to act as pathway and also served as a definition to the circular nature of the design.

3 large Cycads under-planted with lush groundcovers and textural river stones, were all used to great effect in beautifying this Balinese inspired Villa home on a coastal estate just north of Durban, South Africa. They also helped in bringing the scale and volume of the building down to a more appealing level.

It was important that the Water Feature did not compete against the impressive architectural façade . As a result, a simple rectangular water feature was designed. Clad in matching Balau timber its lines are elegant and clean. The smoothness and colour of the pots stand out beautifully against the rough natural textured stone wall behind.

This was a beautiful large parkland garden in the heart of the leafy suburb, kloof. The client wanted a bit more out of their pool of which their large patio overlooked.

Large, dramatic granite boulders with aloes and other flowering indigenous plants were used to evoke feeling of being in the bushveld.

New coloured paving and a fire pit complete the scene for the bushveld ‘game reserve’ feel that the clients were looking for. On the right is a little natural styled water feature with water falling from a piece of drift wood onto pebbles

Outdated irregular shaped slate with dirty white walls and steps were doing nothing good for this pool area.

A bold contemporary curve was used to improve flow to the pool while also tripling up as seating, retaining and steps. Charcoal tiles were used to define the space and pool and beautiful seamless quartz stone flooring was used as a surface. Recessed lighting was placed in steps for evening use.

This was a re-model of my home front entrance. Gone is the horrible white scalloped plastered walls. Now, a lovely quartzite stone wall with water trickling down greets us everyday, along with a better colour scheme too!

Two Constantia style lounge windows overlooked a pretty dull and tired space. As the client and his son loved golf, I suggested a golf putting green and it was a pleasure to build this since loving golf myself.

The large grass bank was high in maintenance and doing nothing from a visual and ecological perspective. Indigenous grasses, groundcovers and Proteas changed the scene completely and is now a pleasure to walk through

Originally built for extra parking perhaps, this recessed wall was drawing the eye to nothing but a bank full of Ivy. I designed and built a matching stone textured water feature with 3 copper pipe sprouts and changed the planting to better serve as a focal point as the front door looked directly onto this bank