We interpret and assess the requirements of the client’s brief to bring the project vision to life and to create authentic and unique design solutions.

     

    Our clients are treated as partners through this process, guiding them through the design journey, with our specialist knowledge in landscape and urban design, natural sciences and masterplanning.

    Every design starts with, and is underpinned by, desk-top and on-site research and extensive client and stakeholder consultation to create a baseline of information that will inform the design intent. This process includes an evaluation of the site and its context, regional cultural influences, opportunities for sustainable and resilient design, a cost evaluation and an assessment of the functionality and end user requirements. Our designers assess and interpret the data and feedback to ensure that the design outcome meets or exceeds the client’s vision for the project.

     

    Our specialist expertise allows us to be visionary and transformative in our conceptual approach, exploring new ways to innovate with design excellence, finding fresh perspectives whilst upholding key sustainable values that protect and enhance the sense of place: cultural narrative, heritage, geology, ecology, social behaviours and the local economy. Our teams of in-house technical specialists provide support at every stage to ensure seamless integration, buildability and a full design service to include engineering, irrigation, lighting, horticulture and cost control.

     

    Through a thorough process of optioneering, testing and consultation, the design is refined and adapted from the schematic stages through to the final design. Regular lines of communication to clients and stakeholders keep the design workable, feasible, within the agreed budget and true to the vision.

     

    Finally, our on-site construction inspection teams ensure that the design is carried through to completion and is faithful to the original design vision. The site teams apply their expertise and specialist knowledge to adopt necessary changes and advise on solutions to on site challenges to maintain the integrity of the design. In addition, our technologists provide maintenance advice to ensure that the projects remain functional and beautiful well into the future.

     

    This holistic in-house design process allows us to provide best-in-practice services, and highly coordinated workflows ensure the realisation of world class designs from the drawing board to the site.

     

    Quality Management

     

    Cracknell’s mission is to consistently provide the highest standard and quality of work in the provision of its landscape architectural and related consultancy services to clients and stakeholders. To create exceptional landscape designs, Cracknell operates a Quality Management System (QMS) and maintains accredited certification to the ISO 9001.2015 Standard. To ensure client satisfaction, quality objectives and conformance to our QMS processes and procedures are the foundation of our commitment to see that applicable design standards and contractual obligations are met, along with legal and regulatory requirements within the countries that we operate.

     

    Through all stages of work, design development and deliverables are managed and checked via a rigorous QAQC (Quality Assurance, Quality Control) programme. Our Design Managers and Department Heads are supported by our Project Management Team in monitoring and maintaining quality standards throughout the project delivery workflow timeline with regular review and feedback throughout.

    We put people first.

    Authentic design is about seeking a cultural and contextual connection to the place and telling its story through a landscape design that resonates with the end users.

     

    Our approach is balanced and sensitive, landscape-led and commercially aware. Our designs have the power to transform communities & cities. We create spaces that are memorable, functional and resilient, adding value to the community and enriching the user experience.

     

    Each design process begins with in-depth studies of the environmental, ecological and social conditions to understand the setting and climate. This ensures that our designs are highly functional, adaptable and sustainable for the long term. Our expertise enables us to be flexible in our creativity while adhering to a proven approach, providing our Clients with a thorough exploration of design options. 

     

    Services Include:

    • Landscape Design
    • Lighting Design
    • Horticulture
    • Irrigation
    • BIM
    • Graphics and CGI
    • Project Management
    • Site Planning and Land-use Integration
    • Community and Amenity Planning and Design
    • Place-making
    • Urban Greening Strategies
    • Landscape Engineering
    • Management/Maintenance Planning
    • Responsible, Resilient and Sustainable Design
    • Heritage, Culture and Restoration Sensitive Design
    • Technology Integration
    • Business Case Realisation
    • Post Contract Management Services

    Services Include:

    • Landscape Design
    • Lighting Design
    • Horticulture
    • Irrigation
    • BIM
    • Graphics and CGI
    • Project Management
    • Site Planning and Land-use Integration
    • Community and Amenity Planning and Design
    • Place-making
    • Urban Greening Strategies
    • Landscape Engineering
    • Management/Maintenance Planning
    • Responsible, Resilient and Sustainable Design
    • Heritage, Culture and Restoration Sensitive Design
    • Technology Integration
    • Business Case Realisation
    • Post Contract Management Services
    Key Projects

    We transform space.

    From the pedestrian scale to the wider context of the city, we focus on expressing a city’s character whilst considering how that might be projected into a sustainable future. We place emphasis on the public realm as the key to great placemaking and successful communities, using the natural environment as a driver for creating active healthy spaces.

     

    We focus on shaping urban spaces around those they serve, respecting the past whilst looking to the future. Our work often serves as an important part of how place identity evolves. Detailed analysis and understanding of infrastructure networks allow us to create spaces that improve mobility and links with adjacent areas, ensuring added value and improving quality of life. 

     

    Services Include:

    • Social Patterns/Culture & Locality Studies
    • Healthy Living Strategies
    • Urban Greening Strategies
    • Urban Design Guidelines
    • Open Space Planning
    • Commercial/Revenue Generation Realisation
    • Visitor Experience Design
    • Sustainability Forecasting
    • Post Contract Management Services

    Services Include:

    • Social Patterns/Culture & Locality Studies
    • Healthy Living Strategies
    • Urban Greening Strategies
    • Urban Design Guidelines
    • Open Space Planning
    • Commercial/Revenue Generation Realisation
    • Visitor Experience Design
    • Sustainability Forecasting
    • Post Contract Management Services
    Key Projects

    We design resilient communities.

    We ensure the built and natural environments interface harmoniously, contributing to quality of life, social and sustainability goals and enhancement of habitats. We masterplan integrated urban frameworks with a sensitive landscape-led approach, balancing environmental, social & economic considerations.

     

    By defining the public realm and green infrastructure within urban space, we look to create a more sustainable and liveable built environment for the long term. In studying demographics, massing, land use and transportation we develop an understanding of each project’s needs. This helps to define the goals and objectives that will meet the current and future requirements of the local community within the framework of the visual, environmental and cultural context, while remaining faithful to the vision set out by the client.

     

     

    Services Include:

    • Site Analysis & Selection
    • Land Use Strategies
    • Open Space Strategies
    • Pre-Development Studies
    • Character Mapping
    • Conceptual Design
    • Design Guidelines

    Services Include:

    • Site Analysis & Selection
    • Land Use Strategies
    • Open Space Strategies
    • Pre-Development Studies
    • Character Mapping
    • Conceptual Design
    • Design Guidelines
    Key Projects

    We work in balance with the natural ecosystem.

    We use native and adaptive planting palettes to harmonise our landscapes with the regional ecology, weather and soil characteristics; each project begins with a careful analysis of the local climatic conditions, habitat requirements and technical challenges.

     

    Achieving beautiful planting in harsh environments including saline coastal conditions is a speciality. Designing the landscape around natural flowering cycles, a project’s character and appearance transform as the seasons change, even with durable & hardy plant varieties. Carefully selected species provide structural form & colour as well as the resilience to deal with wide-ranging climate conditions and, close collaboration with the irrigation team ensures design for the appropriate optimal water use.

     

    Services include:

    • Native/Adaptive Planting Expertise
    • Low Water Demand Strategies
    • Planting Design for Thermal Comfort
    • Native/Adaptive Planting Expertise
    • Low Water Demand Strategies
    • Planting Design for Thermal Comfort
    • Natural Habitat Creation/Extension
    • Palettes for Seasonal Variety
    • Soil Salinity Mitigation
    • Natural Habitat Creation/Extension
    • Palettes for Seasonal Variety
    • Soil Salinity Mitigation

    We irrigate responsibly.

    We ensure that our water-wise planting is maintained in peak condition through the latest site and climate-responsive IOT technology.

     

    Sustainable and intelligent designs using the latest smart technology maintain the landscape in peak condition whilst keeping water use efficient and minimal. This is especially important in climates with high temperatures and limited water availability. Real time weather and soil monitoring data is used to optimise demand whilst site maintenance plans cater for regular equipment monitoring and repair. Close collaboration with the horticulture team ensures design for optimal water use.

    Services include:

    • Irrigation Design & Materials
    • Irrigation Control Strategies
    • Irrigation Maintenance Guidance
    • Hydraulic Calculations/Specifications
    • System Installation & Trouble-shooting
    • Post Contract Management

    We paint with light.

    We enhance our designs after dusk; using vibrant illumination, subtle tones and play of brilliant patterns. Visual interest, atmosphere and drama are brought to human-centric night environments in the urban outdoors.

     

    We design lighting for parks & gardens, resorts & malls, and holistic strategies for town centres & streetscapes, and we write lighting design codes for City & Regional authorities. Our lighting simulation models are to international standards, minimising light pollution & protecting environmentally sensitive areas. Our realistic visuals show the intended aesthetics to Clients and stakeholders. Coordinating with industrial designers & manufacturers, we provide project-specific lighting solutions, and through Cracknell Post Contract Management, installation quality is closely monitored.

    Services include:

    • Landscape Lighting
    • Urban Lighting Masterplans
    • Night Visualisations
    • Post Contract Management
    • Authority Advice
    • Lighting Elements Custom Design

    We visualise in evocative detail.

    We bring our designs to life in vivid portrayals of their future real-world appearance. This allows us to check with Clients and stakeholders that every detail is ‘just so’ before the first ground is broken.

    From initial concept sketches by hand to fully rendered realistic 3D digital models of the final design, our specialist graphics team help to cost-effectively explore design options for Client review or bring the landscape mood and feel to life for effective marketing campaigns. Whether designing for day, night, seasonal fluctuations or in any corner of the globe the Cracknell team can produce accurate and powerful renditions of the built scheme.  Our teams use a range of software, including 3D Max, Lumion, SketchUp, Rhino, Photoshop, CAD, and Revit to create powerful and immersive visualisations.


    Services include:

    • Hand Drafting
    • CGI – Hero & Lifestyle
    • Option Visualisation
    • Walk/Fly-Throughs
    • Seasonal Visualisation
    • Marketing Imagery

    We design collaboratively using the latest 3D technology & data exchange.

    At the forefront of BIM utilisation for landscape design, we see BIM as an inherent part of our design process.

    Utilising British Standards and UK best practice as a benchmark we use internal BIM protocols and training for accurate BIM planning at RFP response stage and prior to project kick off. Working within the specified Common Data Environment (CDE) BIM Software used includes Autodesk Revit, Sketchup, Rhino, Civil 3D, Navisworks, AutoCAD, BIM 360, Dynamo and Infraworks; BIM deliverables are aligned to the project’s information and file format requirements.

     

    Services include:

    • BIM Project Execution Plans
    • Working to LOD Definitions
    • LOD Schema/Model Element Tables
    • Spatial Coordination/Clash Detection
    • Attached Attribute Data Collaboration
    • Multi-Discipline Software Coordination

    We oversee continuity of the design and sustainability vision.

    Our attention to detail doesn’t stop when we finish the drawings; our on-site teams assure quality of build, innovative problem-solving, adherence to budget, schedule, environmental best practice, safety standards and design intent, and commitment to performance and end user satisfaction.

     

    Managing landscape construction efficiently, our extensive experience with complex projects means we can navigate most challenges whilst maintaining sustainability goals, budget & schedule. Supported by Cracknell’s specialist teams, we ensure site modifications stay true to the design vision. Led by a project manager or resident engineer we oversee construction & contract management whilst closely maintaining stakeholder coordination.

    Services include:

    • Construction Management
    • On-Site Challenge Mitigation
    • QA/Continuity of Design Vision
    • Budget & Schedule Control
    • Stakeholder Coordination
    • Statutory Policy Adherence
    • Maintenance Plans/Advice