What makes a good hardscape design?

Recently this was the question that was asked in a group discussion on a business networking web site I frequent. There were many great answers, and perspectives that were offered by both landscape architects and designers. For me however my answer had more to do with the basic use of the landscape space in question than anything else.

As designers we can be blessed with a client with an unlimited budget when it comes to materials, plants and all manner of various accoutrements but that budget makes no difference when it comes to designing a functional space that flows properly and most importantly, comfortably. My belief, and this is really in keeping with good design, is that no matter what type of hardscape materials are to be employed and no matter what type of plant material that is to be placed in the landscape none of it matters if the overall space is improperly conceived, laid out and installed. Now don't misunderstand. I'm not suggesting materials and plants aren't important because they certainly are. However what I am suggesting is we can use the best of everything but if the space is awkward, disjointed or otherwise uncomfortable in any way it will be abundantly clear and the space itself could become highly undesirable.

Now this notion may seem fairly evident, and hopefully it is, but as a client you might be very surprised to learn how the poor use of space can effect the use of a landscape. No client wants to find this out after spending their hard earned money on the installation of their landscape so it pays to think ahead about how you plan to use a space now and how you may plan to use a space in the future. Consider not only your present needs but your future needs.

To reiterate it makes little difference how much is spent on a landscape if the basic structure of that landscape and the effective use of the space are thought out poorly and hard to use, or similarly awkward or disjointed.