Designing a New York private terrace: Landscape designer Jonathan Fargion talks to us about rooftops, balconies, and urban patios
A luxury terrace design in Chelsea, New York, near the High Line. Landscape by Jonathan Fargion.
If you’re one of the lucky few to have your own private outdoor space in New York City — congrats! Now you have the enviable problem of figuring out how to design it. Do you like lush greenery, or prarie-like grasses? Will you entertain guests with outdoor dinner parties, or relax in your private getaway? What kind of outdoor lighting will be best for the space? And how will you know if whatever you place on your terrace is safe from the wind?
To help guide us through the considerations of planning your private urban outdoor space, I’ve turned to New York landscape designer Jonathan Fargion, who runs the luxury studio Landsthetica that is based in NYC and offers landscape architecture services globally. Jonathan considers himself “an ally for the architect, the interior designer, and the homeowner.” His outdoor designs balance the worlds of building design and greenery, elevating a structure while making its outdoor area feel luxurious and graceful, as if it had always been there.
Read my Q&A with Jonathan below to learn what it’s like to work with a landscape designer in New York and how a professional can help translate your lifestyle and aesthetic aspirations into a beautiful urban patio, terrace, rooftop garden, or backyard.
-Ksenya
Founder, Time & Place Interiors
About Jonathan Fargion:
Jonathan Fargion, landscape architect
Jonathan Fargion is a New York-based landscape designer whose work merges the practices of architecture and ornamental horticulture. His luxurious outdoor designs complement a space’s architectural setting while elevating the client’s outdoor experience.
Jonathan holds a Master’s in environmental architecture from Politecnico di Milano and a specialization in ornamental horticulture from The New York Botanical Garden. His academic and professional experiences have taken him to Italy, Israel, Hong Kong, and Lisbon. Jonathan has lectured on ecology and garden design at venues including NYU Casa Italiana, The New York Botanical Garden, and Montclair University.
Manhattan views from a Brooklyn rooftop garden. Landscape by Jonathan Fargion.
T&P: What's it like to work with a professional landscape designer?
JF: As a landscape designer, my role is to translate my clients’ aspirations into the design scheme of their private outdoor space. Through strategic questions about the homeowner’s aesthetics and functional preferences, I work to capture their goals through a bespoke creation.
My hands-on work begins by assessing the site conditions, including the light exposure and checking any possible building limitations. Then I begin to sketch ideas to present to the client through drawings, reference images, and material samples.
Once the design scheme is approved, I create architectural drawings that include all details such as layout, the weight load calculation, stone choices, tree selections, custom planters, outdoor lighting. Depending on the project, there could be terraces, patios, pools, pergolas, a water feature, a pool, or even an outdoor shower.
Finally, I provide my clients with quotes from landscape contractors. I oversee all of the construction, coordinating between my client, the architect, the interior designer, and any other professionals involved in the project. It’s a full service product, from start to finish.
A Summer reading room in the inviting backyard patio of a Park Slope historic property. Landscape by Jonathan Fargion.
T&P: How do you draw on a client's lifestyle to recommend an outdoor space design?
JF: Some clients enjoy showing me their Pinterest boards inspirations, but many find it challenging to express their desires into words. It’s my job to interpret the feeling my clients want their outdoor space to produce and to apply that into a design plan, and then to execute it with professional skill. It’s important for me to establish a comfortable working relationship with my clients, allowing them to open up about their lifestyle habits. That insight gives me the ability to tailor my plans to meet their individual needs.
Some clients want a patio with a lot of plants. Others enjoy flowerless gardens. Some seek a space that’s more formal. I have clients who entertain a lot, so their design plan will be functional for having company, with a large outdoor dining table and lounge furniture. Avid cooks might enjoy a beautiful herb garden with a variety of fragrant species. With bespoke landscape design, the options are almost infinite.
Knowing what time of year my client will be enjoying their outdoor space enables me to configure the blooming schedule of the garden. For example, clients who split their time between different locations might want trees that bloom at the same time they’re based in the city.
Stylish and comfortable living in a West Village outdoor terrace with custom Italian planters. Landscape by Jonathan Fargion.
T&P: What are some ways to integrate the interior design of a living space with the design of the outdoor patio?
JF: I believe that landscape design needs to work in harmony with a building’s architecture and a space’s interior design. Landscape has a tridimensional factor: you can view it from the inside of a home, experience it within the building’s grounds, and see it from afar.
Material finishes of the garden help to bridge the world of landscape and architecture. Sometimes an outdoor stone patio should match the stone used indoors. Or perhaps the pattern of the interior’s wood floor could be cohesive with the pattern of the materials installed outside.
There should also be an intentional relationship between the finishes that are on the inside and outside of a space. If a home’s interiors are ultra modern, for example, you can go in two different directions with the outdoor design: either a streamlined minimal look to mimic the interior, or a contrasting lush garden that counterbalances its austerity.
A view of Brooklyn beyond a private rooftop terrace. Landscape by Jonathan Fargion.
T&P: Are there any challenges particular to landscape design work in New York City?
JF: Designing residential outdoor spaces in New York involves anticipating and accommodating the various rules and regulations that are mandated by the boards of coop and condos. Rooftop work in the city can be complicated by load bearing capacity which impacts soil selection, irrigation systems, hardscape materials, and tree size. Depending on the articulation of the design, coordination with a structural engineer might be required. If an elevator doesn’t suffice for transporting large trees onto a terrace, craning could be involved. And of course, safety from the wind should always be considered when designing a rooftop garden.
Sitting in the dappled shade of a West Village outdoor patio. Landscape by Jonathan Fargion.
T&P: What are some ways you recommend for designing an outdoor space sustainably?
JF: I’ve been seeing ecological and environmental considerations in landscape design becoming more important to clients, and being prioritized among landscape designers. However, the best landscape design practices have always been mindful of local ecology, and environmental issues are always on my mind as I design an outdoor space. Native plants are always preferable; I avoid invasive species at all cost. I also tend to stay away from artificial materials like synthetic turf, and prefer natural ones like wood, stone, and metal. And I try to specify wood that is sustainable and locally sourced.
Over my years working as a landscape designer, I’m proud to have planted hundreds of trees. They’ll have a lasting impact on the environment and will be enjoyed for generations to come.
To get in touch with Jonathan Fargion for landscape design inquiries, email jf@jonfargion.com.
Are you seeking bespoke design for your New York home?
Time & Place Interiors is a New York based design studio that mixes vintage + modern design. Founder Ksenya Malina brings access to bespoke furnishings and decor, as well as collaborative partnerships with landscape designers, art consultants, and plant specialists. Use the link below to schedule a free 20-minute information call with Ksenya to discuss your interior design project:
