Votre entrepreneur propose des raccourcis dans un projet d’aménagement paysager. Comment privilégiez-vous la qualité plutôt que les économies de coûts ?

Remember that the contractor can be looking at any and all shortcuts, but not all of them are to save the client money. Often we see some motivated because the contractor doesn't want to deal with something new or complicated you are proposing -- protecting their bottom line. It is important that their proposals are evaluated and prioritized for both their aesthetic and functional impact, now and down the line. It is our job as the landscape architect to look out for the client and project's best interests and not to just make the contractor's job easy.

Before accepting any proposed shortcuts, carefully assess the potential risks. Consider how these changes could impact the project's durability, maintenance needs, and design integrity. Ask your contractor to clarify the long-term implications of each shortcut and weigh whether immediate cost savings are worth future expenses. Prioritizing quality materials and proper installation techniques helps avoid issues like soil erosion, plant failure, or hardscape damage, which could be expensive to fix later on.

Short-term vs. long-term thinking. I know several contractors who follow a plan to the letter and those who simply ignore any planting plan or other landscape specifications. You can plead your case for a higher quality development, but by then the Owner tends to be lulled into believing that all value engineering should start with the greenspace. A more effective approach is to reiterate to the Owner the project approval necessity of installing ordinance-required plants and green areas as planned. Visualize lower maintenance costs, more attractive sites and use of proper plant material that will result in a higher value property. Conversely, any designer needs to be open to changing plan conditions if the project is over budget.

It is essential that, before accepting any proposal from the contractor, their proposed shortcuts should be evaluated. The contractor may be asked to make a detailed evaluation of each proposed shortcut, keeping in view the principles of sustainable development. Since the main theme of the project is based on sustainability, their proposed shortcuts must respond to some criteria: materials used are eco-friendly, maintenance is low, and execution is of high quality. They must also be sustainable, considering any potential environmental impacts and including mitigation strategies wherever possible. The fact that a shortcut will save money is, in itself, not sufficient for its approval.

Your contractor's expertise is invaluable, given their extensive experience in implementing similar projects. However, it's crucial to determine whether a proposed shortcut is genuinely beneficial for your specific project. Just because a shortcut reduces costs and has been successfully used by the contractor in other projects doesn't automatically mean it's the right choice for yours. You should carefully evaluate each shortcut—do you really need it? Will it align with sustainability principles and contribute to the project's long-term goals? While it's important to trust the contractor's expertise, it's equally important to thoroughly assess all shortcuts before accepting them.

Reducing costs in a project is important, but it's essential to keep your project's goals in mind. If the primary goal is sustainability, even a cost-reducing shortcut isn't worthwhile if it doesn't align with sustainability principles. Such shortcuts may lead to higher maintenance costs, shorter durability, and ultimately fail to be sustainable. Therefore, focusing on long-term costs and sustainability is more important than immediate savings.

Materials play a very important part in a sustainable project. What one is using for the purpose should be eco-friendly, even if it requires them to be a little more costly for upfront purposes. They offer long-term benefits related to a low impact on the environment and durability. Whatever shortcut cuts your cost by half and uses non-eco-friendly materials should be rejected right away. Long-term sustainability of the project must take precedence over short-term savings.

The best way to utilize the valuable experience of the contractor is to stay in regular contact and hold frequent meetings. If the contractor suggests a shortcut, be sure to review it in these joint sessions, considering the project's goals. If you decide not to accept the shortcut, clearly explain the reasons. Additionally, communicate to the contractor that while project cost is indeed very important, you are committed to sustainability principles, and any shortcut must align with sustainable development standards.