What is landscape architecture?

Landscape Architecture is the art and the science of the design and integration of the natural and man-made elements of the earth, with the materials of the-earth, water, vegetation, and built elements-the landscape architect is responsible for making places, for a variety of uses and habitation.

What is the practice of landscape architecture & land planning?

Land Planning is a segment of Landscape Architecture that involves a larger scope of area, time, politics, and design process. The area involved is from a few acres to thousands of acres or square miles. The planning process involves large scale infrastructure of roads, pedestrian circulations, utilities, and development standards. These type projects usually involve several disciplines and create multi-use communities and or new towns and take several weeks or months to plan and implement.

Why hire an architect?

A client hires an Architect to provide direction, opportunities, experience, and options that have not been thought about. The Architect is the organizer of other related professionals that may be required for the particular scope in the project. The Architect of a project is relied upon by the client to give the best advice in the time available to create the project for the client’s benefit.

Do you make “blue prints”?

Blue prints or to some synonymous with “floor plans”, were the method in which hand prepared drawings were copied through a machine that used ammonia and light. When new technology in CADD, or Computer Aided Design and Drafting came about in the mid 1980s, pen plotters were the norm in more offices and blue print machines were still used. When desk and ink jet technology became more cost efficient and available, by the end of the 1990s blue print machines went obsolete except for the professional that still may have one and did not upgrade to modern printing. Now all of our drawings are black and white just the same as a photo copy machine. In addition, color printers are used for color graphics and used in combination with hand graphics for illustrative presentations.

Do you have stock house plans?

Yes, I have many stock or previously designed house plans in my office. Many of these floor plans have been built and would need to be modified from the original design to fit your lot or needs.

Do you do landscaping?

I design and prepare landscape plans that will be followed by a landscape contractor or the home owner. I also can manage a project which entails hiring a landscaping contractor on behalf of the owner, and other specialty contractors for the specific task or job. I also can provide construction observation that will check and insure the quantity and quality of a landscape installation as the owner’s representative.

Do you do erosion control plans & are you a SWPPP preparer?

(Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan)

Yes, I design and prepare SWPPP, (Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans) for commercial and residential sites for counties in South Carolina, York County, and The City of Rock Hill. The SWPP plans are now required for all new construction grading activity in South Carolina as per DHEC regulatory requirements. After the SWPP plans are approved and the grading has started I am retained on continuing basis for site visits until I apply for Notice To Terminate. I also prepare Erosion and Sediment Control plans for North Carolina projects.

A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with moisture either permanently or seasonally. Such areas may also be covered partially or completely by shallow pools of water. Wetlands include swamps, marshes, and bogs, among others. The water found in wetlands can be saltwater, freshwater, or brackish. Wetlands are considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems. Plant life found in wetlands includes mangrove, water lilies, cattails, sedges, tamarack, black spruce, cypress, gum, and many others. Animal life includes many different amphibians, reptiles, birds, and furbearers.

What is a green roof?

A Green Roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. This is the definition most widely excepted by architects, landscape architects, and other green roof professionals that are designing in their projects sustainable elements for a more over all healthy and integrated organic system to the new structures. The green roof will also provide cooler space below the roof, is a stormwater capturing area, a heat reducing element, a sound barrier and most of all an improvement in the quality of life. The green roof is most easily designed into new structures but can be retrofitted in remodeling and unfits to existing structures. Call us to discuss your new home or commercial building and save energy on cooling and valuable collection area for stormwater in your design project site.

What is a Rain Garden?

A rain garden is a shallow, planted depression that absorbs excess water into the ground from impervious surfaces such as roofs and driveways, rather than allowing it to enter storm drains and surface waters.

What is Sustainable Design?

As we move forward into a new generation of Sustainable Design, DFC&A will be using the new technology, the LEED associations, and continuing education to create the spaces for living in the next twenty years.

As a certified LEED Green associates; we will be specializing in sustainable green, custom home design and construction management; including energy efficient passive solar homes, passive solar additions, green home renovation, and green home remodeling. In addition to the residential home design, the landscape architecture will be integrated into all aspects of site design for residential and commercial projects.

The parameters of Sustainable Design are nature’s prime influences. First, the sun is an integral part of the home design, heating the home naturally in the winter, shaded in the summer to keep the home cool and providing daylight year around. We use solar energy to generate much of the electricity for the home and to heat water where applicable.

Second, the natural flow of water is taken into consideration to keep the foundation and site dry and to prevent excessive runoff to nearby streams. Third, the air flow around the building is carefully considered to avoid cold air in winter and to channel cool breezes in summer. We use natural local materials were ever possible. We design for maximize energy and water efficiency to minimize pollution and depletion of our resources.

Our communities are laid out in harmony with the natural energy flows of the landscape and oriented for solar maximization performance. We will use native species of plants in the landscape when possible; design roads and site work to minimize run off to the streams. While most developments have a negative impact on the local environment and contribute to global warming due to excessive energy consumption, DFC&A strive to improve the local environment and build on the natural beauty of the place.