An Italian Landscape Designer Brings Milanese Charm to Manhattan

For Italian landscape designer Jonathan Fargion, New York City has been home for the past decade. After arriving there as a fresh graduate after his architecture studies at the Politecnico di Milano, he enrolled at the School of Professional Horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden to further connect his passion for design with the natural environment. Honing his skills with positions at prestigious firms, Massmiliano Fuksas, Daniel Libeskind, and Rees Roberts & Partners, he ventured out on his own to establish an independent landscape studio.

In a city known for expensive shoebox dwellings, the Washington Heights neighborhood made sense for a Manhattan address, access to subways, lush greenery, and classic apartments. “I was always passing Washington Heights while driving up to Westchester County to meet with clients, and fell in love with the area. I get to enjoy beautiful views of the Hudson River and easy access to the Met Cloisters and Fort Tyron. It really reminds me of being in Milan,” Jonathan explains.

Location: A 1912 Building, Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York

Square Footage: 520 square feet

The Inspiration and aesthetic: Settling on a charming one bedroom walk-up rental near 188th, in 2017, Jonathan found the perfect canvas to create a space to unwind and get creative. Taking inspiration from his hometown of Milan, Jonathan’s interior styling is an interconnected story, blending Italian design from the Radical movement, with storied artwork, photography, and the interior layout of classic New York prewar elements.