Developing a Landscape Plan Lots of Moving Parts

Anne has described the landscaping we’ve seen at many houses as “haphazard.” Both to avoid this look and to deal with the various elevations and shapes of our property, we feel we need a landscape designer to draw us a comprehensive plan. We won’t be able to implement it all right way, but we want to know where we are going.

landscape plan example

We first asked Kevin about this in the spring. He asked around and got a recommendation to Paula, from England but living in Marche now. She met us at the property during our visit in May, when we discussed the situation in front and behind the house.

During this meeting, we reached a general consensus on our best option, roughing out the various land terrace levels. We thought the next step was for Jimmy, the geometra, to develop some specific drawings. Then Paula could develop an overall plan.

It hasn’t quite turned out that way. We needed to resolve the parking area location and size. Alessandra had proposed the parking to all be on a level above the house. Paula suggested that a parking area for one car next to the kitchen would be a good idea. Kevin went off to develop the kitchen parking option and get some costs.

While this was going on, Paula sent us an idea of what she could do to help with the overall landscape design. I found it a bit confusing, so we exchanged a few emails to try to sort it out.

We took all of these issues up again during our July visit. While we liked Paula’s idea, as it would be more convenient, given the land shape we’d need to build a reinforced concrete platform for the kitchen parking area. Big bucks. So parking just above it will be.

Now, the problem became the cost to do all the earth moving and reshaping we need to get to the terrace plan we developed. Fortunately. Francisc was able to find a lower cost contractor and to get some needed soil from another job site. However, we needed to wait until all the exterior stone work was done before the land reshaping could be done, as there was stone piled all over the property while that work was in progress.

Just recently, this major land rework has been started and should be done in a week or so. We’re eager to have a landscape plan, so we can do as much planting as feasible as soon as possible.

Since I didn’t feel Paula had given us a clear proposal from which we could engage her services, I looked over the series of emails with Paula and outlined my understanding:

  1. Phase one: The overall plan gives all the hard landscaping (stairs, paths, some area by pool to be out of sun, etc. – anything that isn’t a plant ) and indicates which areas are planting and a rough idea of the type of planting.
    • Turnaround: 2 weeks after you get needed site survey from Jimmy. Then, once we understand and approve this plan, you will firm up the drawings, including any technical drawings needed for the work to be priced and built.
    • €550, with additional site visits at €30 per hour.
  2. Phase two: The planting plan is a scaled drawing (usually 1:50) with lots of circles, each one representing a plant’s ultimate spread, and each one labeled (in Latin) to facilitate ordering, planting and ongoing maintenance. This a plan that could be planted in stages with the broad structure planted now and the more developed areas then could be planted as and when we are ready.
    • Turnaround: 2-3 weeks after we agree on the final output of phase one.
    • Estimated €600-€800.

If this description is accurate, we’re ready to sign with Paula and get going.

The immediate next step is for Paula to get the land surveys and drawings she needs. I have asked her to contact Jimmy and be sure he understand just what these drawings need to be. In the past, she has seemed reluctant to approach Jimmy. I’m hoping now things will finally start to move forward.

An Update

Paula and Jimmy have talked. Jimmy will soon deliver the drawings to Paula on large sheets, as she just works on paper. not on the computer.

Source:
Landscape plan example: Copyright: toa55 / 123RF Stock Photo

Terracing, Terra Armata, and Terrazza And Some Interior Work

Earth moving continues to (re)shape and soften the land terraces in front of and behind the house. This major project started about two weeks ago and we saw some photos of progress earlier in the week.

Now, not only is the earth being moved, it’s being reinforced by a technique called terra armata, which I described and illustrated in an earlier post. Steel grids are inserted into the slope and on the face of the slope. They provide a structure to keep the earth in place.

Anne continues to be concerned about our ability to plant on the slopes with the terra armata grids in place, but we continue to get reassurances that we’ll be fine: bushes and trees can be planted.

Terra Armata Mesh Reinforcement
Terra Armata Mesh Reinforcement
Click image to enlarge
Back of House From Below
Back of House From Below
Click image to enlarge

The top floor terrazza is being finished, as are the roof sections near the terrazza.

Inside, they have started putting a skim coat of concrete on top of the underfloor heating pipes. When finished, it needs to cure for 10 days or so. Then they will start laying the floor tiles.

Terrace with Roof Over Kitchen
Terrace with Roof Over Kitchen
Click image to enlarge
Skim Coat Partially Applied
Skim Coat Partially Applied
Click image to enlarge

Here are more photos of this work.

Source:
All images: Copyright © Our Big Italian Adventure

Earth Being Moved, Portico and Terrazza Being Built

Making the Hill Less Steep in Front
Making the Hill Less Steep in Front
Click image to enlarge
Moving an Olive Tree
Moving an Olive Tree
Click image to enlarge
Beam Across Portico Columns
Beam Across Portico Columns
Click image to enlarge
Cement for Roof on top of Poroton
Cement for Roof on Top of Poroton
Click image to enlarge

Work is continuing to try to address that bugaboo land slope issue. Kevin reports that the situation seems much improved. It’s almost impossible to tell from pictures, as we can’t assess the steepness of the slopes or the width of the land terraces very well. However, it looks better in front of the house, but I’m not yet sure if they are building land terraces with a descending path at one side or with a path that “snakes” across the slope.

As part of this work, they’ve needed to relocate some olive trees from the front of the house. They are supposed to be very hardy, but on our last visit I noted a few transplants that looked pretty sickly. We will hope for the best.

Since the portico columns are now built and faced with stone and brick, they are adding the beams to support the roof. The main cross beams and the side beam are in place. Next should come some cross beams and the support structure for the roof.

Also, they are working on building the top floor terrazza and the small roof sections that cover the ground floor areas that aren’t under the main roof. There is also a “false” peaked roof that is above the flat ceiling in the kitchen. The construction of these roof sections is just like that of the main roof: Poroton blocks, rebar, and concrete.

Here’s the whole photo album.

Source:
All images: Copyright © Our Big Italian Adventure

Underfloor Heating Pipes A Snake of Pipes

On top of the base layer of the underfloor heating, they have started installing the heating pipes.

Underfloor Heating for Main Room
Underfloor Heating Pipes Installed in Main Room
Click image to enlarge

Anne looked at the photo below and said it looks like a crime scene, with a chalk outline of a murdered boa constrictor.

Snake of Heating Pipes
Murder Scene
Click image to enlarge

Here are more snakes.

Source:
All images: Copyright © Our Big Italian Adventure

Finalizing the Kitchen — I Think Island Drawers and Appliances

After a lot of back and forth on the details, I think we have the final kitchen design set.

  • We’ve resolved the cabinet height question by making those on the main wall taller.
  • We resized the island drawers to be more suitable for the intended use, with shallower top drawers for silverware and tools.
  • We agreed on the specific appliances.

Here’s the final spec package.

Kitchen design image
Kitchen Design Package
Click image to read

Source:
All content: Copyright © Our Big Italian Adventure