This document summarizes a large landscape project in Macau that was completed in 2012. It describes the redesign process that was needed to reduce costs by $60 million after initial estimates came in 160% over budget. Over 2.5 million plants had to be reselected and tagged. It also details the design and installation of preserved palm trees manufactured by NatureMaker. The project was completed on time and on budget despite challenges. The document acknowledges the many individuals and companies involved in the successful completion of the project.

1. Landscape Project Sequence, Grand Opening April 2012
Walter Bone, ASLA CLARB
Senior Landscape Design Manager
US Licensed Landscape Architect

2.  This book was developed to be apart of my personal portfolio and provide insight to the dedication and
countless hours of colleagues during the design and construction processes. A special thanks goes to all
involved in the project on the client side, design firms, construction companies and suppliers.
 Re-design for a majority of the hardscape and softscape were undertaken when the re-tendering resulted in
a 160% increase in costs. The re-design process included plant substitutions for local species, using the
highest qualiy and largest materials at strategic locations and maximizing accent plants at key locations.
Over 2,500,000 plants had to be reselected/tagged and shipped to the site. The re-design and cost
reduction exercise took 6 months and the reduction of $60 million MOP was achieved without sacrificing
design integrity or theming.
 Interior plantings undertook complete re-thinking and the design process started with the selection of
NatureMaker, Carlsbad, California to manufacture the 40 preserved palms for Cascading River and Court of
Palms. These palms were designed to reflect natural conditions in every form: curving up towards the light
source (skylights) and consisting of 5 different species. The natural conditions included lichen, ferns
growing out of the trunks, yellowing of the palm frond edges and algae on the northern faces.
 The many trips, hot days on the pool decks, carefully orchestrating between all trades, the project, upon
resumption in 2010 was completed on time and within budget in 2012.
 I would to thank everyone I worked with and look forward to opportunities to work with you in the future.
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3.  Venetian Orient LTD  AECOM
 Walter Bone, ASLA CLARB  Grant Shaw
 Senior Landscape Design Manager  Senior Horticulturist
 Richard Coumbe
 Chief Engineer – Facilities  Asia Landscape, HK LTD
 Gerard Lafferty
 Construction Manager  Stan Li
 President
 Matt Birkwood
 Construction Manager  Iris Li
 Macau Operations Manager
 Ian Hay
 Senior Architecture Design Manager  Pico Sanderson
 Scott Wardle
 Senior Commercial Manager  John Harris
 Construction Manager
 Darren Thomas
 Commercial Manager  NatureMaker - Steel Art Trees
 Gary Hannick
 President/Owner
 Jim Paul
 Vice President, Lead Designer
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4. Plant Material Selection & Tagging
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5. The Team went on Nursery visits
weekly to re-select plant material
that were either too large to fit in the
planters, overgrown and weedy or
were reduced in size for budgetary
reasons.
As SLDM, I had the final approval
with recommendations from Grant
Shaw, Richard Coumbe and Stan Li.
Over 10 months of weekly trips
yielded nearly 100% replacements
of all tree and palms with
substitutions made for the shrubs
and groundcovers due to species
selection during the pre-suspension
design stage.
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6. 6

7. 7

8. 8

9. 9

10. 10

11. Wire baskets specially designed for interior trees and palms for ease of
installation and removal.
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12. Certain species were selected based on branching structure for key Pre-digging maintenance was of inclusive of root pruning, selectively
locations for both the interior and exterior landscapes. thinning out branches and rootball preparation by removing existing soil,
washing the roots, application of root feeder and re-balling with
improved soil mixture.
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13. 13

14. Teaching nursery staff how to prune the palm trunk for a cleaner
appearance prior to delivery to site.
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15. Seasonal color selection for Paradise Garden and Cascading River.
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16. 16

17. Sample Hand Sketches / Concepts
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19. 19

20. 20

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22. 22

23. 23

24. 24

25. 25

26. 26

27. 27

28. Design and Manufacturing
NatureMaker-Steel Art Trees
Carlsbad, California
Naturemaker.com
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29. NatureMaker was awarded the task
of manufacturing the preserved
palms for both Cascading River and
Court of Palms after a lengthy
tender process. Working closely
with Jim Paul (VP), we were able to
re-design the theming for the palms,
creating 5 different species, each
with individual characteristics.
The original palms were of one
species and generic in appearance.
The end result created a more life-
like appearance for the interior
settings in the retail mall and casino
floor.
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30. 30

31. 31

32. 32

33. Tornado Palms for the bridge crossing in Court of Palms. Designed
with a minimum 3m height clearance for maintenance vehicles.
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34. 34

35. 35

36. Daily/Weekly Sign-offs
and Inspections
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37. Cascading River
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38. Court of Palms
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39. Forecourt
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40. Site Office Entry
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42. 42

43. 43

44. 44

45. Level 8 Pool Deck and Cabanas
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48. 48

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50. 50

51. 51

52. 52

53. 53

54. Shade House constructed
on Parcel 2 to house 5/6
plant materials and future
use by Facilities Mgt
(80m x 80m)
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60. 60

61. 61

62. 62

63. 63

64. 64

65. A Photographic Tour
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81. Acknowledgements
A special thanks to the following who provided much needed assistance in the project success: Walter Bone, ASLA CLARB is a
licensed landscape architect and
Iain Fairbairn, Keith Buckley, KK Chan, Robert Perry, Michelle Sandquist, Carlos Sarmiento, John author from the United States. After
Richards, Barry Mather, Jeremy Chastain, Phil Clarke, Jose Isles, Evelyn Inson, KF Chan, Ian Wright, receiving his Bachelor of Landscape
Philip Hornby, Adrian Frankland, Chris Silcock, Mark McWhinnie, Mike Naylor, Curtis Hoffert, Carrie Architecture from Mississippi State
Chan, Martin Garrod, Konno Ng, Michelle Atazar, Nelson Cruz, Peter Loder, Greg Morrison, Dominic University in 1988 his career lead him
Butcher, Tony Wu, Terry Harkin, Nina Lai, Nancy Lin, Andy Lewis, Cody Hansen, Geoff Morgan, Pat on many travels across the US and
Morgan, Neill Stockley, Jose Isles, Wendy Cheng, Alice Kwong, Aedas, Gensler Architects, Lighting abroad.
Design Alliance (LDA), AECOM, Hsin Chong, Edward Tracy, Michael Leven and especially the
Owner, Sheldon Adelson. Key positions included Vice President
with RWB & Associates in Memphis,
Tennessee, Director of Landscape
Architecture at Poggemeyer Design
Group in Las Vegas, Senior
Landscape Architect with Belt Collins
and Principal Landscape Architect
with Shankland Cox both of Hong
Kong.
Walter gained vast resort design
experience in Las Vegas with
numerous casino projects and served
as Senior Project Manager for
Landscape at the Galaxy Mega
Resort in Macau prior to his
appointment with Venetian Orient
LTD.
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