Landscape Plan v1

[Liwen Cheung]

Meeting attendees Ross Wells, Vince Cheung, Liwen Cheung to review the first draft of the landscape plans. 

Asked Ross to make the following changes:

1. Lower the lattice dense on the guest parking area to a 4 ft. tall fence so it will not block the view from the office

2. switch the chess board location with the planter box location. The planter box will be a square shape box in the new location

3. Remove all the trees on the south side of the house out on the berm area

4. Remove the 2 trees outside the south side of the 2nd garage 

5. Remove the 3 cluster of trees on the south-west side of the house towards the windemere side.  They were originally asked by the town to be there but we'll leave it out for now unless the town asks again. 

6. Remove the ground cover and all the trees in the area between the paved area out to the existing Oak trees on the East side of the house. This will remain a more open space with a dirt path out to the oak tree with natural grasses around it

7. Remove the low ground covers that line the drive way up to the house. We will only have trees along that drive way up to the house

8. The entry gate pillars need to look contemporary along with the entry gate. This item remains open for us to circle back with Mike whether it's feasible to have a sliding gate opposed to a swinging gate. (THIS IS MORE A NOTE THAN A CHANGE REQUEST)

[Liwen Cheung]

Tim, Ross - I spoke with Vince earlier and came up with our list of changes summarize below. Please let us know what the next steps are or if we need to get together for a phone call so we may arrange for it on our end. 

1. Entry gate to the office - sounds like you guys came up with a solution. We will wait and see the drawing to get a better idea of what it looks like. Vince did tag this as something he liked. The walls shouldn't be this tall but the idea is use fencing as a subtle guild for visitors to the office. Maybe pillars is what you are thinking to serve this purpose. 

http://www.houzz.com/photos/3614743/Phinney-Energy-Remodel-contempo...

http://www.houzz.com/photos/82667/West-Vancouver-contemporary-lands...

2. We would still like to switch the chessboard and planter. The reason is to make the chess board more visible for guests and have planter in a more private area off to the side. Liwen is not sure when she will get around to planting so don't want a pile of dirt in the middle of entertainment area. 

3. Remove all trees on the south side on the berm. We will deal with the city's comment as they come and understand that we may have to put them back. 

4. Remove the 2 trees outside the south side of the 2nd garage 

5. Remove the 3 cluster of trees on the south-west side of the house towards the windemere side.  They were originally asked by the town to be there but we'll leave it out for now unless the town asks again. 

6. Remove the ground cover and all the trees in the area between the paved area out to the existing Oak trees on the East side of the house. This will remain a more open space with a dirt path out to the oak tree with natural grasses around it

7. Remove the low ground covers that line the drive way up to the house. We will only have trees (that change colors in the fall) along that drive way up to the house

8. Entry gate- let's draw it up as a swinging gate. Liwen will just learn to a more patient and careful driver every time she drives up to that fence. Yes let's use gate examples #1 and #2. Those were our favorites too!

9. Remove the concrete seating around the planter box (in it's new position) and extend the seating area along the north side all the way up to where Ross thinks it makes sense, maybe where the walk path begins?

10. We are open to keeping the DG walking path up to the berm. However, we would like to see the entrance of that path start from the south-west side near the 2nd garage. Will see it in the new proposal to see how it looks. 

11. We are okay with keeping the lawn more rectangular to so we can have less retaining walls. We will look to Tim/Ross expertise on this. No preference here. 

12. Walking path around the house - We are fine with a step down and using a stepping stone path. Would love to see some examples of more contemporary stepping stone path. 

13. Retaining wall - we are ok with keeping it more rectilinear. Sounds like you guys came up with some options of what it can look like so we will just wait to see it on next drawing. 

[H. Ross Wells]

Also Tim I need a file showing the water tank location?

[H. Ross Wells]

Tim-

1. We can add a DG path here

2. I can eliminate walls except for one 30" wall but then the engineer will have to figure out how the grades will work between the 840 and 830 contour as it is already a 2:1 slope.  I can eliminate walls on the WEst side and not have a connection to the north side of the house.  if we step down we will still need a small wall as we will need to step back up on the north side. trickey

3. Lawn area is in the shape that I have it to accomodate a future pool and or addition.  If you do not want this I can move the lawn closer to the house in order to eliminate walls.  Your call.

[Tim Haley]

We must have posted at the same time - see my comment below. - Wait to hear back from Vince and Liwen on this before making modifications - but you can probably proceed with other drawings and even material selections (for our sample board for the Town) - until you hear back from them (even if Vince is travelling he should be able to review this on the web).

[H. Ross Wells]

Thanks for the examples of Gates Liwen.  We will consider a similar look.  also we will modify the seat wall pr your recommendation.  I am still on hold as I have not seen any comments from Tim.  If there are none then I will proceed with the preliminary plan with changes.

[Tim Haley]

My Comments responding to your comments above:

1. 4ft tall wall is a bit unusual but I do think it still works in this context (likewise the gate would be short as well) - but still works.
2. I kind of like it where Ross has it - but your call.
3. I think the Town of Danville will require these trees (per David's last comments).  I do think we can minimize them however.
4. Per your comment above
5. Per your comment above
6. I was going to add this comment myself - so I agree.  The natural Oaks provide enough landscape on the East Side.
7. Agree - this will reduce on cost
8. Still think the swinging gates will be fine per the meeting (and we can get sensors so it doesn't affect an approaching car).
9. I would advocate for keeping it as Ross has designed it - but your call.
10. I would advocate for keeping it as Ross has designed it - but your call.
11. I like the first two gates from your images - Note these are both swinging gates :)

My Comments added below:

1. I like the East Side of the House (except for the two trees near the (e) oak) and I like the DG sitting Area and Path.
2. We want to avoid any walls higher than 3ft (since they will be more expensive if they are higher - they will need to be engineered).  Suggest removing most of the walls on the North and North West side of the house (to reduce costs).  Suggest adding a planter wall only (30" down from Patio so we don't need guard-rail) around the Master / Dining Patio on North West side.  For the path connecting this patio to the main entertainment patio on the North East side - I suggest a few steps down to a stepping stone path (I don't see a lot of people traffic going around the north side of the house - thus no need to spend money on this outside connection - people can go through the house ----- "indoor-outdoor-living" - if need be).   I see them primarily entertaining on the North East Patio - not the North West.
3. The Lawn on the South West side should be a rectangle in shape not a square.  Orient the long side - North-South - to closely parallel natural grade to reduce wall heights.
4. I like how you kept things rectilinear - to keep it modern (not organic and free form). - The circular wall would normally be fine around the Spiral Stair but lets keep it one wall per comment above and keep it rectilinear.

[Liwen Cheung]

9. Remove the concrete seating area around the check board (as it's drawn on the diagram). Then extend the concrete seating area along the north side up to the start of the walk way. This provides for more seating where there will be more traffic during a party

10. Remove the DG path up to the berm. 

[Liwen Cheung]

Examples of entry gate that we like

http://content.angieslist.com/2009/9/30/825a5448-714d-4532-bffb-3e3...

http://st.houzz.com/simgs/b79144df01a4d80b_4-7715/contemporary-entr...

http://www.cmstatic1.com/80733/c/metal-entry-gate-2--MjkyLTgwNzMzLj...

http://www.vectronstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Simple-Gat...

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/146367056613274338/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/146367056611450649/