We design and build terraces, penthouses, balconies, courtyards and gardens in Milan, starting from what the space offers: light, view, exposure and the way you would like to live in it. We choose plants suited to the city and to the climate at height, design custom planters, shade and paths, and from our Monza studio we follow every project through to construction and long-term care.
Book a site visitIn Milan, outdoor space is often up high: a top-floor terrace, a loggia, a balcony running the length of the apartment. These are places exposed to full sun and wind, where plants live in containers and every choice has to take weight, drainage and irrigation into account.
That is why the project starts with a careful site visit: exposure, shadows cast by nearby buildings, views to screen or to frame, the building’s rules. On that basis we choose species suited to the urban microclimate, the right containers and the most suitable irrigation, so the terrace stays easy to look after.
The same approach applies to gardens and inner courtyards, where greenery becomes an outdoor room: a filter between the home and the city that changes with the seasons.
Roberto Landello is a garden designer with studios in Monza and Lignano Sabbiadoro. From our Monza studio we design and build gardens and terraces in Milan, in Brianza and in Lombardy, following every project in person: from the first site visit and the choice of plants to construction and maintenance.
Our work starts with plants. Roberto grew up in his family’s nursery in Lignano Sabbiadoro and trained at the Scuola Agraria del Parco di Monza; Luca, our technical lead, combines a background in construction with training in agronomy and arboriculture.
It is the dual expertise Milan calls for: on a terrace at height, the choice of species matters as much as weight, drainage and irrigation. In 2017 our installation “Ciclicità lunare” won the Foglia d’Oro del Lago di Como award at Orticolario, and our projects have been featured in Gardenia, Casa in Fiore and Terrazzi e balconi.
On terraces and penthouses, plants live in containers, exposed to full sun and wind. We design custom planters, green screens for privacy and shaded areas, choosing species that can handle the microclimate at height and an irrigation system that keeps care simple.
Milan’s courtyards often get little direct light and are enclosed by high walls. We choose plants for shade and part shade, play with textures and shades of green and pay close attention to materials and proportions, so that a space you pass through becomes a place to stop.
Even a few square meters can become a small garden. On balconies and loggias we work vertically, with climbers, upright plants and planters designed to the centimeter, so you get greenery and privacy without losing room to sit.
For homes with gardens in the Milan metro area and Brianza, the project covers the whole outdoor space: paths, shaded areas, places to spend time together and borders of perennials and ornamental grasses that change with the seasons and need less water.
What clients ask us most often before starting a project.
Yes. Good terrace design works at any size: even a few square meters can become a space to live in, and we work on proportions, heights and plant choice to get the most out of every surface.
On a narrow balcony it pays to grow vertically, with custom planters, climbers and upright plants: you gain privacy and shade without losing room to sit.
Wet soil, pots, planters and furniture weigh more than you might think, so loads always need to be considered before designing.
During the site visit we gather information on the structure and, where needed, choose lightweight containers and lightweight growing media, placing the heaviest loads close to the perimeter walls.
It depends on the building’s regulations and on the type of work. Planters and plants on your own terrace usually cause no problems; pergolas, roofing, tall screens or changes to the façade, on the other hand, may require the approval of the owners’ assembly or building permits.
We discuss this at our very first meeting, so the design takes those constraints into account from the start.
It depends on the exposure. Facing south you need species that tolerate full sun and the heat reflected by floors and walls; facing north, plants for part shade do better. At height, wind also matters a great deal.
We combine species so the terrace has interest in every season, with a backbone of evergreens that keeps it green in winter too.
Container plants depend almost entirely on the water they are given, and in summer an exposed terrace dries out quickly.
That is why we plan irrigation at the design stage: an automatic system, adjusted to the season, is often the most reliable solution, especially if you are out of town during the hot months.
We start with a site visit: we look at the space, the exposure and the constraints, listen to how you would like to use it and take measurements and photos.
This leads to the preliminary design, with the concept and the first choices of plants and materials, which we discuss together before going any further.
Costs and timing depend on the area, the complexity, the materials and the plants chosen, which is why we do not give figures before seeing the space.
After the site visit we present a clear proposal. Bear in mind that many plants are best planted in spring or fall: if you have a date in mind, it is worth starting the design early.
Yes. We follow the build with site supervision and coordination of the works, so that materials, details and plants match the design.
We deal with suppliers and installers and are on site at the key moments, such as selecting the plants and planting them.
We can set up a scheduled maintenance service, tailored to the plants and to the needs of the space.
Pruning, feeding, irrigation checks and seasonal replacements keep the terrace in balance and let it grow as the design intended.
Tell us about your terrace or garden in Milan: we start with a site visit.
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