Process
Work process through design and construction
1. Contact Us
Owing to geographical limitations, online meetings will initially be preferred. These meetings will serve to both ensure we understand your vision and allow us to provide our expertise regarding the feasibility of bringing your vision into reality. Please don't hesitate to be in touch.
2. Concept Design
According to the site information provided to us in the online meetings, we will research the local environment, history, geography, climate, as well as the availability of water, plants, and minerals, to name a few. We then will use this information to create a conceptual plan with 3D images, renderings, and hand drawings.
3. Estimation and Contract
We will provide you with an estimate for the design process. Please note that obtaining an estimate for the construction will be your responsibility. Naturally, we will discuss the range of suitable options available to you, such as the sole use of a local contractor; bringing in expert carpenters, craftsmen, and gardeners from Japan; or bringing a limited team of specialists from Japan as instructors who will work closely with the local contractor and their team. The contract between us will then be written in English, and our international lawyer will ensure that it adheres to all relevant laws and conditions. We will collaborate closely with you during drafting of the contract to ensure both parties are satisfied.
4. Site Research
We will need to survey the site for your proposed project, and as such, the most efficient way to achieve this would be for one of our experts to visit the location in person. While performing our site survey, we will also endeavor to communicate with local specialists, such as carpenters, nursery persons, engineers, and craftsmen, as well as locally source plants and stones and other potential items which would harmonize with Japanese architecture and gardens. Please note, this stage will therefore involve a separate charge which will cover our expert's consultation fee and their travel expenses. We will be able to provide a detailed and comprehensive breakdown of all the necessary costs during our initial online meetings.
5. Basic Design
We will collate all the information obtained from our expert's visit to the site as well as the latest technology to create 3D images, renderings, hand drawings, and a VR tour, where you will be able to experience a "walk through" of a mock-up version of your project. You will also be able to discover various additional elements, such as how the lighting will change over the course of a day and year by using our renderings that have been created based on the actual lighting levels experienced at the site. We regard this process as being essential to provide our clients with realistic expectations. Additionally, this is the best way to ensure that the client's vision has been suitably captured. Additionally, depending on the scale of the proposed building or garden, it may be necessary to apply for a building permit from the local government/council. In such a case, we would need to collaborate with local architects and structural engineers. If our clients were able to introduce us to such people, we will then be able to work with them to prepare all the necessary applications for any required building permits.
7. Site Supervision
We will supervise the construction and work together with the local constructor. If required, we will also be able to draw from our team of expert carpenters, craftsmen, and gardeners for construction guidance or for the actual construction, depending on your preference.
6. Detailed Design
The detailed design process involves preparing the comprehensive design drawings to be shared with the clients and contractors. As for the shop drawing, this should be created by a local contractor who will know more about the local standards, as the Japanese standards may often not be applicable to your country. However, it will be easy for the local contractor to convert our detailed design drawings into a shop drawing for the project.
8. Completion of Work
After the final check of the site, and the completion of any outstanding work as necessary to ensure your complete satisfaction, we will provide a detailed explanation of the maintenance details required to ensure the building and garden are kept in optimal condition. Especially for the garden, our expert gardener will take time to meet with the local gardeners to identify potential problems they may encounter during their upkeep of the garden, as well as solutions to avoid or rectify such problems if they do arise.
