Commercial Landscape Design, Auckland

No. We're happy to design and hand the documentation to your preferred contractor for tender. Plenty of our design work goes out to other Auckland builders, particularly on developer-led projects where contractors are already locked in. That said, when Holland designs and builds, the project tends to run faster and cleaner because the same team owns the detail from drawing to dirt. Either model works; tell us what suits the project and we'll scope accordingly.

A straightforward concept for a body corporate courtyard might take two to three weeks. A full multi-stage developed design with council documentation for a townhouse development or commercial site typically runs six to twelve weeks depending on scope, consent pathway and stakeholder rounds. We give you a realistic programme at the start and flag any dependencies (survey, geotech, arborist reports) that could move the dates. No vague "soon" answers.

Yes. We prepare landscape plans to Auckland Council standards and coordinate with planning consultants, arborists and engineers as needed. For projects triggering landscape conditions under the Unitary Plan (tree protection, stream setbacks, esplanade reserves, subdivision landscape requirements) we package documentation that meets council expectations the first time. We don't lodge the consent ourselves but we work hand-in-glove with the planner doing it. Most of our developer clients prefer this split.

It depends on site size, complexity and how much documentation you need. A concept-only package for a small commercial site might start around five thousand dollars. Full developed design with planting plans, hardscape details and council documentation for a multi-unit development typically runs from fifteen thousand into the low tens of thousands. We quote fixed fees per stage so you can commit incrementally rather than signing a blank cheque. Indicative construction costs come with the concept so there are no nasty surprises.

Selectively. Our core work is commercial (body corporates, developers, facilities) but we take on residential projects where the brief suits our process, typically larger sites or full property redesigns. If you're after a quick backyard refresh, we're probably not the right fit. If you want a properly documented landscape that integrates with architecture, drainage and a long-term maintenance plan, get in touch. We'll tell you straight whether we're the right designer for the project.

A site address and a brief conversation about what you're trying to achieve is enough to get us started. From there we'll arrange a site visit, confirm what survey and geotechnical information already exists, and send you a fixed-fee proposal broken down by stage. You don't need drawings or a detailed brief before calling us. Most clients start with a fifteen-minute phone call with Bert. That conversation usually clarifies the scope faster than any written brief.

Yes, regularly. A significant portion of our commercial design work sits within larger construction projects where the principal has already engaged an architect, civil engineer or project manager. We're used to working within those structures: attending design team meetings, coordinating on boundary treatments, grading and drainage interfaces, and issuing drawings in the format the project requires. If you're the PM or architect and you need a landscape consultant who shows up prepared and hits deadlines, that's us.

Yes. The concept stage exists precisely for that. We present the concept, talk through the reasoning behind each decision, and then take your feedback into a revision round. Our standard fee includes one round of revisions at concept stage. If the brief changes significantly, or if stakeholder rounds add additional revision cycles, we'll tell you upfront what that costs before doing the work. There are no surprise invoices for going around the loop once.

Yes, where the project calls for it. We design irrigation layouts as part of the planting documentation on most commercial projects, and we specify landscape lighting in coordination with the electrical design. Both are detailed to installation standard, not just noted as "to be confirmed by others." If the project is large enough to warrant a specialist irrigation or lighting consultant, we'll say so. Most body corporate and mid-scale commercial sites are well within what we handle in-house.

We specify around the site first: aspect, soil type, wind exposure, salt load, proximity to drains and kerbs, and how intensively the space will be maintained. Auckland clay and coastal salt knock out a long list of species that look great in catalogues but struggle on real sites. We favour plants we know perform here, and we're honest when a client falls in love with something that won't survive the conditions. Every planting plan comes with a maintenance schedule and an expected establishment timeline so there are no surprises in year two.