A well-designed terrace is an extra room of the house. We design terraces, penthouses and balconies starting from their exposure, their view and their actual dimensions: made-to-measure planters, plants chosen for sun and wind, shaded areas, screening for privacy and an irrigation system that makes the planting easy to manage, from the first design to the finished terrace.
Book a site visitOn a terrace, plants live in containers, with little soil and a lot of exposure. The sun is stronger, the wind more constant, water evaporates quickly and in winter the roots feel the cold more than they would in the ground. These conditions need to be considered before choosing even a single plant.
That is why the design starts with a careful site visit: dimensions, exposure, shadows cast by nearby buildings, views to frame or to screen, and access for bringing materials and plants up to the terrace. We take into account weight loads, drainage and the rules of the building or condominium, and plan irrigation right from the design stage.
The result is a terrace that works all year round: with a backbone of evergreens that keeps it green in winter, flowers and textures that change with the seasons, and maintenance in proportion to the time you want to give it.
Roberto Landello is a garden designer based in Lignano Sabbiadoro. From here we design and build gardens and terraces in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto and 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.
Terraces are the largest part of our work: most of the projects we have built are spaces above ground level, from sea-view penthouses to the smallest balconies. 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 a penthouse there is room to create different areas: dining, an outdoor living room, shaded corners. We use planting to divide the space and give it depth, with planters of different heights and plants that can take the full exposure of the upper floors.
In the city, planting screens out views and noise and creates a cooler microclimate. Hedges in containers, climbers and small trees build a green filter between the home and the street.
By the sea the terrace is used mostly in summer and has to put up with salt, wind and reflected sunlight. We choose coastal and Mediterranean species and design screens that give shelter without closing off the view.
Even a few square meters can become a small garden. On balconies and loggias we work vertically, with planters designed to the centimeter and slender, upright plants, while leaving room to sit down.
What clients ask us most often before starting a project.
Wet soil, planters and furniture weigh more than you might think, so loads must always be considered before designing.
During the site visit we gather information about 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 exposure. A south-facing terrace needs species that tolerate full sun and the heat reflected off floors and walls; on a north-facing one, plants for partial shade do better; on upper floors and by the sea, wind matters a great deal.
We combine species so the terrace has interest in every season, with a backbone of evergreens for winter.
Container plants depend almost entirely on the water they are given. An automatic drip system, adjusted by season, is often the most reliable solution, especially if you are away in summer: we include it in the design from the start.
It depends on the building rules 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 facade may instead require approval from the owners’ meeting or building permits. We discuss this at our very first meeting.
With green screens built upward: hedges in containers, climbers on light structures, small trees placed exactly where they are needed. We work on sight lines, so what bothers you is hidden and the view stays open.
Yes. As garden designers for terraces we follow the work on site with full site supervision, from installing the planters to planting, and we can set up a scheduled maintenance service tailored to your terrace.
Have a terrace, penthouse or balcony you would like to rethink? Tell us about it: we start with a site visit.
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