A long-term vision for our gardens with a reduced reliance on water
OBJECTIVE – Design and implement a long-term gardening plan for the improvement and transformation of the gardens at Hacienda Riquelme, with Stage One planned to be completed by the end of 2023. Stages Two and Three over subsequent years.
IRRIGATION – The most challenging aspect of our gardening is lack of water, it is essential we achieve a good design, with the aim of reducing the current level of irrigation.
Our main motivation for embarking on this project is to:
1. Substantially reduce irrigation.
2. Landscape and improve large areas of grass and scrubland.
3. Reduce maintenance costs.
4. Provide colour and year-round interest.
5. Strike a balance between hard and soft landscapes.
VISION – The plan should enhance the look of the resort and enable it to mature and grow to provide landscaped areas with a calming feel for people to walk, sit and relax. An almost Zen like feel which captures and blends in with the surrounding mountain area complimented by modern designs.
We want innovative ideas to create an attractive plan which flows around the resort and gives continuity from Phase to Phase. The designs can incorporate a variety of inert materials such as gravel, large/small rocks, volcanic rock, gabions, sleepers, gritty sand, artificial grass, and other inert features you may think suitable. We would also expect the designs to be ‘softened’ with Mediterranean trees and shrubs, succulents and grasses that require little irrigation.
CHALLENGES – Year on year our water company has reduced our irrigation and we are no longer able to maintain the large grass areas. Water is one of our most expensive items and in this area of Spain we do not expect this situation to change.
* Hot, dry summers – plants die every year due to lack of irrigation.
* Poor soil.
* Grass areas are becoming brown and dying.
* Expectation of owners to keep gardens attractive.
OVERVIEW – We have a large resort consisting of 78 buildings, all golf course facing, across 8 Phases with large, grassed areas front and back, incorporating many large, mature trees.
In addition, we have several other plots of town hall land around the perimeter of the resort, mainly grass and scrub areas requiring large amounts of irrigation and maintenance.
We have a number of roundabouts and boulevards which have attractive hard landscaping and low irrigation planting.
The total area to be re-landscaped is approximately 33,000m2, encompassing 145 individual areas of differing sizes (as indicated on the accompanying plans). The land is currently predominantly grassed, with some areas of scrubland also included within the scope. The terrain to be re-landscaped is mainly flat with some limited areas of slope.
DESIGN SUBMISSION – The Design Submission should include the following deliverables as a minimum:
1. Detailed layout plans (in colour) will be required for all areas within the project scope. These should clearly define differing areas of surface finish and also depict individual specimens of trees and shrubs, together with any large hard landscape items such as ‘rocks’ or other inert features. The canopy/spread of trees and shrubs should be shown and be representative of the size when fully mature. All such plans should be presented in computerised format.
Digitally signed PDF files should be provided. These PDF files should be split into a series of coloured images (suitably annotated to indicate their location), to cover those areas included in the Invitation to Tender, so as to facilitate presentation to the Owners in an understandable format. The exact format of these PDF images can be determined by the design company, so for example they could be plan drawings or an axonometric image. The number of such images required for each Phase should be as a minimum:
* Phase 1 – 5
* Phase 2 – 5
* Phase 3 – 1
* Phase 4 – 2
* Phase 5A/5B – 4
* Phase 6 – 2
* Phase 7 – 4
Furthermore, these specific PDF images should not contain any identifying company names so that the Owners can make their selection without being influenced by the origin of the designs. Four laminated, bound copies of these images, A3 size should be provided.
Plans will also be required in DWG formats and fully dimensioned.
2. In support of the detailed layout plans a hard/soft landscape and planting schedule will be required for each individual area in XLS format. These schedules should include as a minimum the following information:
a) Total square metreage area of each individual ‘plot’ to be re- landscaped. All such areas will require the removal of the top layer of soil, grass etc., to a depth of approximately 10cm.
b) Total square metreage area of each individual hard/soft landscape material, including weed suppressant membranes.
c) Where chippings/gravel are included the colour, size (grading) and depth should be indicated. Minimum depth to be 10cm.
d) If areas of artificial turf (minimum 25 mm high monofilament Greenock 25 or equivalent) are included the face weight (the weight of the yarn in a square metre) and the total weight (the weight of the primary and secondary backing in a square metre) should be indicated.
e) Total square metreage of areas planted with grasses, succulents and the like, indicating botanical names (and colour where relevant), planting density per square metre and pot size.
f) Total lineal metreage of any edging material such as Corten steel indicating thickness, depth, and finish. Similarly with respect to stone walls, gabions, or timber sleepers, again indicating thickness and depth.
g) Individual number of trees and shrubs indicating botanical names (and colour where relevant), pot size and/or height.
h) Individual number of hard landscape items such as rocks or other inert ‘features’ indicating approximate size.
i) Total square metreage of areas to be provided with an irrigation system.
3. In addition to the detailed images referred to earlier a limited number (9) of 3D elevational images (in colour) should be provided for the following areas:
General Community Land
* Phase 1 – Calle Atlántico 112-86, Zone 14.1
* Phase 2 – Calle Indico 97-101, Zone 42.0 and 42
* Phase 4 – Calle Egeo 2-40, Zone 65
* Phase 5A – Calle Atlántico 3,5,7, Pine Area
* Phase 5B – Calle Atlántico 200-216, Zones 81, 82 and 85
* Phase 6 – Calle Indico 11-21, Zones 109 and 110
* Phase 7 – Calle Atlántico 56-38, Zone 128
EUCC Land
* Grass Area Between Phase 2 and 6
* Slope Phase 3
The abovementioned images (suitably annotated to indicate their location) should be included within the four laminated, A3, bound copies referred to earlier.
These images should be representative of the landscaping designs at full maturity and where deciduous and/or flowering trees/shrubs are included alternative images should be provided indicating the trees/shrubs in full bloom and when dormant. Images of the areas as currently existing should also be provided.
4. An estimate of installation costs as a lump sum. (Please note we do not require the hard/soft landscape and planting schedules to be priced in detail).
5. An Environmental Statement. A model response should set out the expected environmental and ecological impacts of the proposed landscaping works, for example:
1) reduction or mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions,
2) reducing demand for irrigation water
3) reduction or mitigation of negative environmental and ecological impacts).
Reference to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should be made where relevant. Outcomes that we would expect to see in the Environmental Statement are:
* Estimated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (metric tonnes carbon dioxide equivalents MTCDE)
* Reduction in irrigation water use arising from the landscaping design measured in cubic metres
* Improvement in soil quality and/or avoidance or prevention of soil degradation and desertification
* Coverage of green space under the landscaping works
* Perception of enhanced health and well-being as a result of the landscaping works
* Intended and unintended outcomes.