Outdoor spaces that extend the architecture of your home.
Full-service landscape design in NYC — rooftop gardens, backyard landscapes, townhouse gardens, courtyard spaces, and terraces for residential and commercial properties across all five boroughs.
Founded on the idea that one team should handle everything.
ArcheA Studio was founded by Ana Kurtsikidze — a licensed architect with over 16 years of experience and a Master’s in Architecture and Design. As an architecture firm that integrates landscape design into the full project scope, we design outdoor spaces as extensions of the building’s architecture — not as decorative additions applied at the end of a project.
Whether the project is a rooftop garden in Manhattan, a brownstone rear yard in Brooklyn, a townhouse garden in the West Village, or a terrace in Queens — one team manages the full scope from site assessment and structural coordination through planting, permitting, and construction oversight.
What we design.
Six landscape design practice areas, one integrated team. Every outdoor space is designed in direct dialogue with the building it belongs to — not treated as a separate afterthought grafted on at the end of a project.
Rooftop gardens that feel generous, planted, and livable.
Rooftop garden design in New York City is one of the most technically complex outdoor design challenges in residential architecture. Every project requires structural load verification, waterproofing assessment, drainage design, wind analysis, and — in many cases — DOB permitting and LPC approval for any structures added above the roofline. ArcheA Studio designs rooftop gardens in NYC that work within all of these constraints, coordinating with structural engineers and waterproofing consultants on every project.
Brooklyn rear yards — private, planted, transformed
Brooklyn brownstone rear yards are among the most sought-after outdoor spaces in New York City — private, ground-level, and often untapped. ArcheA Studio provides backyard landscape design for rear yards from compact 10-foot urban gardens to larger brownstone lots with outdoor dining, planted beds, lawn areas, and custom structures. We design the full scope: site grading, drainage, hardscaping, planting, lighting, and privacy screening.
Unified landscape strategy across every outdoor opportunity
Manhattan and Brooklyn townhouses often have multiple outdoor spaces — front stoop garden, rear yard, planted light well, rooftop terrace. ArcheA Studio designs townhouse gardens as a unified landscape strategy, considering each space in relation to the others and to the overall architecture of the building, accounting for party wall relationships, cellar drainage, and existing tree root zones.
Fully livable terraces within strict constraints
Terrace design in NYC involves working within structural weight limits, building board restrictions, waterproofing membrane protection requirements, and the specific wind and sun exposure of a terrace at elevation. ArcheA Studio designs terraces that are fully livable — furniture zones, planted areas, overhead shade structures where permitted, and lighting — while meeting all building requirements.
Interior courtyards transformed into planted environments
Enclosed on multiple sides, interior courtyard gardens receive specific sun and shade patterns requiring tailored plant selection. ArcheA Studio designs courtyard gardens that bring natural light, greenery, and spatial quality to the buildings surrounding them, coordinated with drainage systems and any structural features at ground level.
Structure and sustainability in every outdoor space
Hardscaping forms the structural backbone of every landscape. ArcheA Studio designs stone patios, bluestone pathways, decking, raised planters, retaining walls, and custom garden structures — selecting materials for freeze-thaw durability, weight loading, and architectural compatibility. Sustainable principles — native plants, permeable materials, low-energy lighting — are integrated into every project.
Not sure which service fits your project? Start here.
The first consultation is free — a genuine conversation, no obligation.
How we design outdoor spaces.
Every landscape design project follows the same six-phase arc — though the pace and regulatory specifics vary with site type, building constraints, and permit requirements. Here is what working with ArcheA Studio looks like from the first site visit to the finished outdoor space.
Site Visit & Assessment
We document existing conditions — dimensions, drainage, sun and shade exposure, wind patterns, structural access points, existing plantings, and the relationship of the outdoor space to the building’s interior. For rooftop and terrace projects, we assess waterproofing membrane condition and existing structural capacity.
Regulatory & Board Review
Before any design work begins, we review building board alteration requirements, DOB permit triggers for rooftop structures or new decking, LPC approval requirements for historic districts, and zoning limits on rooftop additions. Understanding constraints at the outset prevents redesign later.
Concept Landscape Design
A scaled concept plan showing the overall spatial organization — hardscaping zones, planting areas, lighting strategy, and key design features — presented alongside material references and precedent images so you can evaluate the design direction before detailed development begins.
Detailed Design & Plant Specification
Full landscape design in detail — hardscaping drawings, planting plans with species, sizes, and quantities specified, lighting fixture schedules, irrigation layouts, and material specifications. Plant selections made based on the specific sun, shade, wind, and microclimate conditions of the site.
Permitting & Board Submissions
For projects requiring DOB permits — rooftop structures, new decking above certain thresholds, significant drainage modifications — ArcheA Studio prepares and files all necessary applications in DOB NOW. For landmark district properties, we prepare LPC submissions. For co-op and condo projects, we prepare documentation for building board approval.
Construction Oversight
We visit the site during construction to verify that hardscaping is installed as specified, planting locations match the plan, and lighting and irrigation systems are correctly positioned. At completion, we conduct a final walkthrough and provide a seasonal maintenance guide tailored to the specific plants and materials installed.
What sets us apart.
Architecture and landscape — under one firm.
The most common failure in New York City outdoor space projects is the disconnect between the building’s architecture and the landscape design. When architects and landscape designers work separately, outdoor spaces frequently conflict with building drainage, structural capacity, window placement, and interior room relationships.
ArcheA Studio eliminates this gap — designing the landscape as an integrated part of the building’s architecture from the earliest phase of the project. Window placement on the exterior is coordinated with room layout. Outdoor space design is coordinated with the structural system. Rooftop terrace design is coordinated with the mechanical equipment below.
NYC-specific technical knowledge
Rooftop structural loading standards, DOB permit triggers for decking and rooftop structures, LPC requirements for visible outdoor changes in historic districts, co-op and condo board alteration requirements, and plant species and materials that perform reliably in NYC’s climate. ArcheA Studio brings all of this expertise to every landscape design project.
Precise documentation for accurate construction
Landscape designs without precise drawings and specifications are routinely misinterpreted by contractors — plants installed in the wrong locations, hardscaping materials substituted without design review, irrigation systems that don’t match the design intent. ArcheA Studio produces detailed landscape drawings — scaled plans, sections, material schedules, plant lists — so contractors can build accurately the first time.
Seasonal design for year-round enjoyment
New York City’s four distinct seasons demand landscape designs that perform across the full calendar year. ArcheA Studio selects plant palettes with intentional seasonal variation: spring flowering, summer foliage, autumn color, and winter structure. Hardscaping materials are specified for freeze-thaw durability. Lighting is designed to extend usability into shorter winter days.
Listings with private outdoor space — terraces, rooftop access, or rear yards — consistently command price premiums of 10–25% over comparable units without outdoor access in Manhattan and Brooklyn. A professionally designed and well-planted outdoor space amplifies this premium further by signaling quality and care to buyers before they enter the building.
Across all five boroughs — and 22 states beyond.
ArcheA’s landscape design practice covers all of New York City. Manhattan — rooftop gardens on Upper West Side and Upper East Side prewar buildings, townhouse gardens in Greenwich Village and West Village, terrace designs in Tribeca, SoHo, and Midtown. Brooklyn — brownstone rear yard landscapes in Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Fort Greene, and Crown Heights; rooftop terraces in Williamsburg, DUMBO, and Greenpoint.
Landscape work also extends into Queens (Astoria, Long Island City, Forest Hills, Bayside), the Bronx (Riverdale, Pelham Bay, City Island), and Staten Island (Todt Hill, New Dorp, Lighthouse Hill) — and beyond NYC into Westchester County (Scarsdale, Larchmont, White Plains), Connecticut, New Jersey, and 23 U.S. states total.
Common questions.
The questions that come up most often in landscape design consultations — answered directly. If yours isn’t here, ask it directly. We’ll answer honestly, including when a project involves more structural or regulatory complexity than it appears.
Do I need a permit for a rooftop garden in NYC?
How much does landscape design cost in New York City?
What plants work well on NYC rooftops and terraces?
Can I redesign my Brooklyn brownstone backyard?
How does co-op or condo board approval affect landscape design in NYC?
Does ArcheA Studio design sustainable landscapes in NYC?
What boroughs does ArcheA Studio serve for landscape design?
Let’s talk about what you’re trying to create.
Whether you are designing a rooftop garden in Manhattan, a backyard landscape in Brooklyn, a terrace in Queens, or an outdoor space for a mixed-use property anywhere in the five boroughs — the first conversation is free. No obligation, no sales pitch.