Design/Build Services

Four Dimensions designs and installs projects that invite life into our clients’ outdoor space. Native habitat gardens can provide a critical corridor, respite, and food source for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife as they traverse our busy urban landscape. Our gardens create space for families to rest, play, congregate, observe, and appreciate the natural communities that surround and support us.

With a focus on sustainable landscaping, we utilize natural and long-lasting materials and look for opportunities for creative reuse and reduction of climate impacts in our construction methods.

Our Specialties

California native plants
Habitat gardens
Water conservation
Rain gardens
Water features
Firescaping
Sloped sites
Sustainable materials
Topography
Hardscape

California native plant garden with orange California poppies, salvia clevelandii, and bunch grass

A tan stone flagstone path with groundcover joints through a wild naturalistic california native plant garden

water feature stone basin fountain california native plant ecology garden slope stone wall

Our Process

Most projects start with a consultation and proceed through the process outlined below, from concept design to installation. The vision for each project emerges out of a collaborative relationship with our clients and their unique site. Our landscape designers will be involved in the project from start to finish, ensuring continuity, efficiency, and adaptability as projects take shape.

Consultation

Our first step is to schedule a brief phone conversation to discuss your needs and project scope. After the phone interview we would schedule an onsite consultation where we talk about your vision while exploring the space.

During the onsite consultation we start to generate design ideas, discuss options for restoration or creation of landscape elements, and provide rough cost estimates.

Request a Consultation

Site Analysis

The design process begins with a design contract based on the expected project scope. Design costs typically amount to 10-20% of the total design/build project.

A site visit will be scheduled to measure and analyze existing conditions and elevations, identify plants or features that may be removed or modified, and possibly start to lay out preliminary ideas for paths or steps on steep slopes to explore feasibility.

Conceptual landscape plan with a large stone patio, curved rock walls, a mulch pathway, timber tie steps, and california native plantings

Concept Design

Once we have explored the site in detail, we draft a schematic concept plan for your garden based on your priorities, aesthetic preferences, and budget. This plan includes a proposed layout of hardscaping (paths, patios, steps, water features, etc.), along with the location of important trees and heights of plantings to give a sense of where plants will provide screening, borders, meadows, or shade.

We will generate recommended material selections as well as alternative options, and will prepare a preliminary construction estimate. Collaboration with the client throughout the concept phase ensures that the final project meets your vision and budget.

Planting plan with a large stone patio, curved rock walls, a mulch pathway, timber tie steps, and california native plantings

Construction Drawings

Once a client has approved a concept plan, we will develop construction detail drawings that finalize and clarify layout, materials selections, construction methods, and costs.

The construction proposal typically includes:

Existing Conditions & Site Preparation Plan
Construction Plan
Grading & Drainage Plan
Lighting Plan
Irrigation Plan
Planting Plan
Construction Details
Construction Cost Proposal

Installation

The details have been worked out and the budget has been refined, so now it is time to break ground! Four Dimensions' team of skilled craftsmen and artisans work with the client and landscape designers to make the plans a reality. Regular communication between the designer, crew, and client is a priority in order to manage surprises and problems as they are uncovered.

Our in-house construction teams are thorough, neat, cheerful, and reliable. They excel in building comfortable and safe spaces using the natural elements of stone, wood, water, and plants. We also work with subcontractors to manage more complex installations or install features that we aren’t able to build in-house.

Our installation specialties include:

Stone Walls
Stone and Timber Steps
Paths & Patios
Planting
Spray and Drip Irrigation
Landscape Lighting
Drainage
Water Features
Rainwater Harvesting and Rain Gardens

Four Dimensions will build a garden that you, your neighbors, and your natural community will enjoy for many years to come. We appreciate the opportunity to transform your outdoor habitat and strive to make the construction experience enjoyable for you.

Stone bench built into wall stone steps terraced hillside grass california native plants natural garden seating shady rock seat

Mt diablo mountain garden rock feature triangle peak point dry garden california native plant landscape

Native plant garden natural design gravel pathway patio poppies bench seating ecological landscape

“I spent a wonderful three hours with you, learning to see my garden through the eyes of a landscape designer. I felt that suddenly, I could see so many new possibilities...”

— Marilyn, Berkeley