limited bookings now available for Autumn/Winter 2025, email frances@fvla.com.au
About
Fran. Vernon is an AILA-registered landscape architect with over twenty years of experience in Australia and overseas. She has a detailed understanding of private residential design, regional landscapes, landscapes for larger multi-unit properties, and the creation of high-quality public spaces. She has worked on numerous projects with complex site characteristics, and is very familiar with their particular design requirements.
FVLA works throughout Victoria, focusing particularly on residential projects and ranging from small-scale urban landscapes to larger-scale acreage and regional properties.
Based in the Dandenong Ranges, FVLA is committed to design that provides a sensitive response to the unique qualities of each site. The Dandenong Ranges are renowned for their beautiful natural environments and also their rich and diverse cultural heritage. Designs for properties in ecologically sensitive areas need to carefully consider the interface between natural landscapes and built environments.
FVLA design with local indigenous, Australian and non-invasive exotic plant species - depending on the unique characteristics of your property.
For locations in proximity to natural environments or with remnant vegetation, local indigenous species are most appropriate - particularly at property boundaries and near existing indigenous vegetation. For locations with existing gardens with mature, high quality exotic species, some compatible non-invasive exotic species may be most suitable. For properties with heritage buildings, careful planting and management of era-appropriate exotic species at the building interfaces may be the best choice.
For bushfire prone areas, planting near buildings - whether it is local indigenous, Australian or exotic - also needs to present minimimal risk during the fire season.
FVLA design for longevity - selecting robust, sustainable materials and working with the inherent characteristics of your property to create innovative, high quality landscapes.
Design package options
Design Advice
For those wanting inspiration and advice on the design potential of their landscape
Package includes:
1 hour meeting to discuss your landscape design needs and the characteristics of your property
Colour image sheet in digital pdf format showing design ideas for your property. Including planting appropriate for your properties microclimate, images of paving materials and example furniture as required.
Written summary of design advice in digital pdf format, including a diagram
showing preferred locations for key landscape elements
Price: $2,200 + gst
Design Concept
For those wanting an innovative concept design that highlights their landscape's potential and suits their lifestyle.
Can be used to brief a landscape contractor, and may be implemented in stages or gradually over time
Package includes:
1 hour meeting on-site to discuss your landscape design needs and the characteristics of your property
Colour image sheet in digital pdf format showing design ideas for your property. Including suggested planting appropriate to your properties microclimate, images of paving materials and example furniture as required.
Colour concept plan to scale emailed to you in pdf format. Concept plan to be based on aerial and/or survey information, or architectural base plan if available. Including proposed layout, locations of suggested planting, paving and furniture as required.
Allowance for 1 set of revisions upon client review
(additional changes to be priced separately)
Price: min. $3500 + gst
(subject to complexity and property size)
Masterplan
For those wanting an exceptional landscape design that includes detailed information to brief a landscape contractor, including specialist pool design contractors and others where required.
Also includes planting layouts, schedules, and no's to accurately implement the design
Package includes:
1 hour meeting on-site to discuss your landscape design needs and the characteristics of your property
(a site visit is required for this package in order to obtain suitable information for masterplan stage drawings)
Colour image sheet emailed to you in pdf format showing design ideas for your property. Including planting suitable for your properties microclimate, images of paving materials and example furniture as required.
Colour masterplan to scale emailed to you in pdf format. Masterplan to be based on aerial and/or survey information, or architectural base plan if available. Including detailed layout, locations of suggested planting and planting schedule, paving and furniture as required.
Allowance for 1 set of revisions upon client review
(additional changes to be priced separately)
Price: min. $4500 + gst
(subject to complexity and property size)
Masterplans for Regional Properties
Specialising in masterplanning for larger Regional Properties
Larger regional properties have unique requirements due to their location and often have multiple uses within the same land area. We are experienced in developing these more complex landscape masterplans that can be implemented in distinct stages over time
Price is subject to complexity and property size
Full landscape architectural services
Consultation and Design Briefing
Consultation and Design Briefing
Meeting with you on-site to discuss your needs and preferences for your space. Identifying site opportunities and constraints, surrounding context, microclimate, and budget for the design. This information will inform the design brief for the project and the preparation of our fee proposal.
Concept Plan
Consultation and Design Briefing
Preparation of an overall vision for the site that responds to your design brief and scope of works, This stage includes a simplified layout plan with support information in full-colour digital pdf format.
Landscape Plan
Development of the agreed design and includes detail of materials and finishes, planting schedules and detail layouts in digital pdf format
Less complex projects with established or semi-established gardens may only need a planting plan and/or detailed layout plan for this stage.
Planning Submission
Landscape Documentation
For those projects where a landscape plan is required to be submitted to Council. Planning submission drawings are generally required to be black and white scale drawings in digital pdf format showing the agreed design at 1.100 and including detail of materials and finishes, planting notes, and a planting schedule. Drawings and a wr
For those projects where a landscape plan is required to be submitted to Council. Planning submission drawings are generally required to be black and white scale drawings in digital pdf format showing the agreed design at 1.100 and including detail of materials and finishes, planting notes, and a planting schedule. Drawings and a written landscape description need to demonstrate that the proposal meets Council zoning requirements, overlays, and landscape guidelines
Landscape Documentation
Landscape Documentation
Landscape Documentation
For larger scale and more complex projects, the landscape documentation stage includes a set of plans for tender and construction and typically includes design set-out, materials, planting, finished levels, landscape construction sections and details, specifications, bills of quantities, and preliminary cost estimates.
Project Management
Landscape Documentation
Landscape Documentation
For larger projects, we offer on-site consultation throughout the build to confirm progress, identify and resolve any potential issues. Where required we can assist with co-ordinating landscape contractors, provide on-site hardscape layout, source and order plants, and confirm correct placement of plants.
Project Management services are charged at an hourly rate as required.