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Databases and Directories

Designguide.com
 http://www.designguide.com/



Newly launched in 2004, Designguide "is dedicated to providing the design and construction industry with the most comprehensive and efficient directory for professionals, products and online resources". Users can browse the site's content by category ('professionals', 'products' or 'links') or use the convenient search tool. When it launched, the site described its interface as "a sophisticated online environment built on imagery, speed and simplicity", and it certainly is unusual to see construction-related content presented within an architectural aesthetic. It all looks very professional indeed, with a recent redesign tweaking the category headings to better articulate the site's undoubted value as a resource. [GAS, 15 Sep 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: arc-070604-02
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Architecture » Resources
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ESI.info
 http://www.esi.info/



 ESI.info describes itself as "a leading online marketplace of products, services and suppliers working in architecture, construction and environmental engineering." The website is free to use and aims to provide designers, specifiers and buyers with an easy way to research, select and specify products and services across built environment projects. A colour-coded menu on the clean and attractive homepage provides access to sections covering External Works, Building Design, Building Services, Interior Design and Environmental Engineering; once inside, users can access over 11,000 illustrated product profiles, featuring specification information and company details. The function to compare and save lists of product selections for use in live or future projects is especially useful. It's easy for a site based around specification information to be dull and stodgy, but ESI.info's lively and well-illustrated pages ensure that the site is lovely to look at as well as an invaluable resource. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 5 Dec 2011].



ENTRY NUMBER: arc-051211-04
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Architecture » Resources
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Findmeplants
 http://www.findmeplants.co.uk/



 Developed by a Brighton-based collective of horticulturists and web designers, Findmeplants is a free plantfinder database that allows gardeners to search for suitable plants by specifying their garden conditions and design ideas using a simple questionnaire. Additional resource value is offered by a series of helpful articles, covering topics such as butterfly-friendly gardening and an A to Z of greener gardening. Last time we cheered what we called the site's "clean and intuitive interface", though this has now been spoilt, we would argue, by too many adverts. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 28 Oct 2010].



ENTRY NUMBER: lan-071006-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Landscape » Resources
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Gardeners Quotes
 http://www.gardeners-quotes.co.uk/



Gardeners Quotes is a useful resource allowing UK users to find details of construction, garden maintenance, landscaping or renovation/modernisation services within a given area of the country. Once they've located a suitable firm, users can then fill in the form provided to request a quote. A small collection of garden-related links is also included. [GAS, 29 May 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: lan-290506-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Landscape » Resources
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GardenLinks: Directory for UK Gardening and Gardens
 http://www.gardenlinks.co.uk/



The GardenLinks Directory presents categorised listings of websites relating to UK gardening and gardens. The site is quite nicely designed and organised, based around an A-Z directory listing; a features and articles page and a well-used message board are also provided. [GAS, 11 Oct 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: lan-061101-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Landscape » Resources
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Green Shoots - Gardening Services in the UK
 http://www.green-shoots.uk.com/



Green Shoots is a UK gardening services and landscape gardening directory, organised by county or local authority area. It's a worthwhile resource, and the homepage is clean and easy to use. Once inside the site, however, the proliferation of bold text and repetition of keywords is all a bit overwhelming, and it would benefit from some calming down in order to make the content easier to digest. [GAS, 3 Feb 2012].



ENTRY NUMBER: lan-030212-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Landscape » Resources
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Hire-Contractors.com
 http://www.hire-contractors.com/



Hire-Contractors.com is a US-based directory of home improvement and restoration contractors, including cleaning services, carpet cleaning, architects, landscape architects, interior designers and builders. The site is attractively designed and easy to use, with users able to browse the directory by category or search it by Zip code. A series of home improvement-related articles add to the site's value as a resource. [GAS, 4 Sep 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: con-040906-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Construction » Resources
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Inside Gardening
 http://www.insidegardening.com/



Insidegardening.com describes itself as "your one-stop destination for anything you can think of that is about or related to gardens", basically taking the form of a directory covering garden resources, designs, stores, accessories, equipment and supplies. The layout of the site is neat and simple, with straightforward navigation and logical category headings. [GAS, 7 Oct 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: lan-071006-02
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Landscape » Resources
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Parks & Gardens UK
 http://www.parksandgardens.ac.uk/



 Parks & Gardens UK describes itself as "the leading online resource dedicated to historic parks and gardens across the whole of the United Kingdom", and has grown out of the old United Kingdom Database of Historic Parks and Gardens (UKPG) - Sapling.info's very first Site of the Month back in November 1999. The current site is elegant and appealing, as well as being a superb resource - visitors can use the 'Places & People' function to search for records and view images of more than 6,500 parks and gardens, as well as of the people who created and worked in them. There's also a very good introduction to garden history, up-to-date news and events coverage, and a resource area with additional images, maps, plans, and downloadable oral histories about life in and around historic parks and gardens. This site is a must for anyone interested in landscape architecture or historic gardens, and is deservedly awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 4 Jul 2010].



ENTRY NUMBER: lan-231100-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Landscape » Resources
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