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Understory

A newly planted tidal marsh in early spring, with a timber boardwalk curving toward a misty city skyline.
A newly planted tidal marsh in early spring, with a timber boardwalk curving toward a misty city skyline.

Landscape architecture · New York

Landscapes are never finished.

Spring

Spring

Year 0

Kiln Creek Tidal Corridor

Planting day: plugs, seed mix and a lot of patience.

The same tidal marsh in summer, soft green grasses along the boardwalk.
The same tidal marsh in summer, soft green grasses along the boardwalk.

Summer

Summer

Year 2

Kiln Creek Tidal Corridor

Marsh grasses establish and the tide starts doing the work.

The tidal marsh in autumn, golden grasses glowing in low evening light.
The tidal marsh in autumn, golden grasses glowing in low evening light.

Autumn

Autumn

Year 5

Kiln Creek Tidal Corridor

Seed heads, migrating birds, a shoreline that absorbs storms.

The mature tidal marsh in winter, snow-dusted grasses beside the boardwalk.
The mature tidal marsh in winter, snow-dusted grasses beside the boardwalk.

Winter

Winter

Year 10

Kiln Creek Tidal Corridor

Dormant, structural, and still protecting the neighbourhood.

Year 0

Year 2

Year 5

Year 10

(01) — What we believe

We design living infrastructure that grows more valuable every season it exists.

Resiliency
Waterfronts
Nature-based solutions
Public health
Water management

(02) — Featured work

Rooted in six watersheds

From tidal parks in New York to cloudburst streets in Copenhagen. Drag the globe, or hover a project to fly there.

All projects →

All projects →

(03) — Services

What we do

One studio from first site walk to year-ten stewardship, working across scales, agencies and seasons.

Site analysisConcept designConstruction docsPlanting plans

Full-service design from site analysis and concept through construction documents and administration. We stay on through planting and the first growing seasons, because that is when a landscape actually becomes a place.

Site analysisConcept designConstruction docsPlanting plans

Full-service design from site analysis and concept through construction documents and administration. We stay on through planting and the first growing seasons, because that is when a landscape actually becomes a place.

(03) — Services

What we do

One studio from first site walk to year-ten stewardship, working across scales, agencies and seasons.

Site analysisConcept designConstruction docsPlanting plans

Full-service design from site analysis and concept through construction documents and administration. We stay on through planting and the first growing seasons, because that is when a landscape actually becomes a place.

Growing since 2009
A surveyor measuring an empty waterfront lot before design began.
Site survey, 2009
Planting plan
Planting plan
Year 12
Year 12
Growing since 2009
A surveyor measuring an empty waterfront lot before design began.
Site survey, 2009
Planting plan
Planting plan
Year 12
Year 12
Growing since 2009
A surveyor measuring an empty waterfront lot before design began.
Site survey, 2009
Planting plan
Planting plan
Year 12
Year 12

(04) — Proof

In good company

Agencies, conservancies, universities and architects we have planted, flooded and argued about soil with.

(05) — Work with us

Interested in working with us?

We usually collaborate with city agencies, waterfront conservancies, universities, cultural institutions and architects who want the landscape at the table from day one, not added at the end.

City agencies

Waterfront conservancies

Universities

Cultural institutions

Architects & engineers

Start a conversation →

Start a conversation →

projects@understory.studio

Studio

18 Marsh Wharf, Third Floor · New York, NY 10013

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Late summer. Seed heads forming on the Newtown Creek marsh.

© 2026 Understory Landscape Studio

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Studio

18 Marsh Wharf, Third Floor · New York, NY 10013

Pages

Projects

Insights

About

Team

Contact

Follow

Instagram

LinkedIn

Currently

Late summer. Seed heads forming on the Newtown Creek marsh.

© 2026 Understory Landscape Studio

Back to top ↑

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