In order to place all the elements of the Courtyard within the space of the Courtyard and have them fit appropriatly, we need a "to scale" blueprint.
We will start with a "bird's eye view", looking from above, down, into the Courtyard.
This foundational blueprint will represent all the existing features of the courtyard. Information for this blueprint will be gathered from accurate measurements taken from the courtyard.
Overall dimensions are notated first: Use feet - inches to describe the measurements. ( ie- 4'-3") Choose a scale and stay consistent with it. (ie- 1" = 1' ) This will give you an exact smaller replica of the real space.
Next, measure each wall with its features: Start on the left side of a wall. Meausure from corner to the beginning of one feature (ie-left side of door). Mark down that measurement. Measure width of feature (ie-width of door). Mark down that measurement. Measure from right side of door to the next feature and so on until you have notated the entire wall. Move to the next wall and do the same.
Measuring existing features: To locate the garden, measure the width and depth of the garden. Measure the distance from all four walls and note these measurements.
Once you have all these measurements, it is simply a matter or putting them into your "to scale" drawing.
From this blueprint, we will be able to design in all of the elements that will be a part of the courtyard. Keeping everything we add to the same scale we started with will assure that the new elements will fit.
For a more graphic and eye-catching presentation, especially where landscaping and other outdoor elements are involved, a site plan is created. One can be more illustrative by the use of shapes, colors, textures and symbols. The site plan is also to scale.
EXAMPLE:
The site plan below was originally submitted to the World Trade Center Memorial Project. I worked co-creatively with Madiline Perrone of New York City, visually presenting our ideas for the Memorial. The memorial had to fit within and surround the footprints of the Twin Towers, and was to include the main memorial naming those that died; area for friends and loved one to mourn; resting place for the unidentified remains; museum; children's memorial; and other aspects for quiet contemplation and reflection, hence the memorial gardens.
