How to Choose a Landscape Architect in Paris, and What Makes Simonson Landscape Different
Finding the right landscape architect in Paris is not always easy. The market is crowded, the language is often vague, and many companies present themselves as ecological, design-led, or turnkey without necessarily having the full expertise to deliver a complete and lasting garden.
A successful landscape project requires much more than liking plants or knowing how to maintain a green space. It calls for design vision, botanical knowledge, technical understanding, construction experience, and the ability to bring many moving parts into one coherent whole.
At Simonson Landscape, this is exactly what we do.
We are a Paris-based landscape design studio and design-build company creating gardens, terraces, courtyards, and outdoor spaces rooted in ecology, sustainability, and well-being. Our approach is climate-conscious, site-specific, and artistic. We create outdoor spaces that are designed to age beautifully, respond intelligently to changing environmental conditions, and improve the daily lives of the people who inhabit them.
What does a landscape architect in Paris actually do?
A landscape architect, or paysagiste concepteur, does far more than choose plants or decorate an exterior. The profession brings together design, spatial planning, ecological thinking, and technical coordination. A successful project must consider circulation, grading, drainage, materials, planting, lighting, maintenance, and the relationship between the garden, the architecture, and the surrounding landscape.
This is why a garden should never be treated as a simple collage of elements. It is a designed environment, and when done well, it feels coherent from every angle.
To learn more about our design approach delve into our Garden Design and Our Expertises pages.
You can also explore the broader profession through the Fédération Française du Paysage and their page on the paysagiste concepteur profession.
Who is Simonson Landscape?
Simonson Landscape is a Paris landscape architecture and design-build studio working in France and internationally. We create custom outdoor spaces that combine artistic composition, ecological intelligence, and high-level execution.
The studio was founded by David Simonson, a landscape architect with international training and 17 years of professional experience. David leads each project with a strong design vision, focusing on materials, space, harmony, colour, textures, lighting, and the creation of sequenced outdoor rooms that dialogue with the house, the site, and the views beyond.
Alongside him, Thibault Rouet brings deep botanical and horticultural expertise. He oversees planting precision, construction follow-through, and the long-term success of the gardens, while managing a trained team of artisans capable of building projects from A to Z.
This dual structure is one of the key strengths of Simonson Landscape. It allows us to combine design vision and on-site execution in a way that is rare in the landscape field.
What makes Simonson Landscape different from other garden companies?
The short answer is this, we are not simply selling greenery, and we are not applying the same formula from one project to the next.
We approach each project as a complete landscape composition. The materials, the planting, the circulation, the light, the atmosphere, the use of space, the seasonal changes, and the dialogue with the architecture all matter.
That means our work sits at the intersection of art, ecology, construction, horticulture, and lived experience.
Many clients do not need a basic maintenance company. They need a real design-build landscape studio capable of creating a durable, meaningful, and well-executed project.
You can see this range of work across our Landscape Design Projects, including The White Garden in Paris, A Parisian Garden Oasis, and the American Peace Garden.
Why are ecology, sustainability, and wellness central to our work?
Because they are not optional extras. They are now fundamental to good landscape design.
At Simonson Landscape, ecology is not a marketing word. It is part of the foundation of our work. We create gardens that support biodiversity, use plant palettes adapted to local conditions, and respond intelligently to climate, exposure, water availability, and long-term maintenance.
Sustainability, for us, means designing spaces that last. It means choosing the right materials, the right technical solutions, and the right planting strategy from the beginning. It means thinking ahead and creating landscapes that remain beautiful and functional over time.
Well-being matters too. A well-designed garden can calm the mind, improve comfort, create shade, invite social moments, and reconnect people with the rhythms of nature. We see the garden as an extension of living space.
For broader context on climate and nature-based landscape thinking, see:
You can also discover one of our ecological projects here: Award-Winning Ecological Garden, Chaumont-sur-Loire
Why does botanical expertise matter so much?
Because plants are not decoration.
They are living systems with specific needs, behaviours, and long-term consequences. Exposure, soil, drainage, frost sensitivity, irrigation, and maintenance all matter. If the planting strategy is wrong, even a visually attractive garden can fail within a few seasons.
This is one of the biggest blind spots in the profession. Many people can compose an attractive image. Far fewer truly understand plants.
That is why the botanical dimension of Simonson Landscape matters so much. With Thibault Rouet’s expertise in horticulture and plant knowledge, the studio is able to bridge the gap between visual design and living reality.
This is especially important for clients seeking:
a climate-adapted courtyard or terrace
a long-lasting planting plan that evolves well over time
Why is a design-build team a major advantage?
Because the quality of a project depends not only on the concept, but on how it is executed.
A beautiful sketch does not guarantee a beautiful garden. Someone still has to build it properly, coordinate the trades, source the right materials, resolve details on site, and ensure that the final result remains faithful to the original vision.
This is where a design-build studio has a real advantage.
At Simonson Landscape, the continuity between design and realisation is part of the offer. That means better consistency from concept to construction, fewer misunderstandings, more precise control over details, and a more coherent final result.
Learn more about this through our Garden Design, Our Story, and Our Expertises.
How do you know if a landscape company is truly qualified?
If you are looking for a landscape architect in Paris, here are a few useful filters.
1. Look at studies and qualifications
Training matters. Formal studies in landscape architecture, design, horticulture, or related fields usually signal a deeper understanding of spatial design, project methodology, and ecology.
David Simonson’s background includes a degree in Landscape Architecture from California Polytechnic State University and further training at ENSP Versailles. He also teaches at ENSP in landscape representation, digital tools, and AI for landscape design.
2. Ask who actually builds the garden
Who is in charge on site? Who coordinates the artisans? Who follows the planting? Who protects design quality during execution?
A company that designs without understanding how the garden will be built leaves a dangerous gap in the process.
3. Ask about awards, publications, and recognition
Awards are not everything, but they do matter. They often show that a company is producing work that stands out in originality, innovation, and quality.
4. Read the reviews and testimonials
Client reviews often reveal more than polished branding. They tell you how a team communicates, how it handles complexity, and whether the final result truly met expectations.
5. Be cautious with very cheap or “free” design offers
Low upfront design fees can sometimes hide weak expertise or inflated construction costs later. Serious design has value, and good planning avoids costly mistakes.
6. Ask for a case study
A case study shows how a company thinks, designs, and delivers. It reveals far more than a single attractive image.
You can explore some examples here:
What should clients be careful about?
One of the biggest risks is confusing polished language with real expertise.
The landscape field is full of fashionable buzzwords. Wellness, biodiversity, sustainable design, low maintenance, climate-proof, green living. Some of these ideas are meaningful, but when they are used without depth, they quickly become empty marketing.
A good landscape company should be able to explain:
how the planting works
how the drainage works
how the materials age
how the site will be built
how maintenance is anticipated
how the garden responds to climate and exposure
who is responsible for what
Precise questions often reveal the difference between a serious landscape professional and a good salesperson.
Before and After, why transformation matters
Many clients come to us after trying other solutions first. Sometimes they worked with a basic gardening company. Sometimes they hired someone who produced a nice sketch but could not carry the project through. Sometimes they were sold an idea without the expertise needed to make it work.
Then they realise that landscape design is a real profession.
It is not just a business opportunity. It is a discipline that requires years of training, field experience, artistic judgement, and technical control.
At Simonson Landscape, we offer complete garden transformations, from concept to construction. Whether the project is in Paris, elsewhere in France, or abroad, our clients trust us because we combine creativity with credibility.
Why do clients choose Simonson Landscape?
Clients choose Simonson Landscape because they are not simply looking for a contractor.
They are looking for a true landscape partner.
They want a team that understands design and execution. A company that knows plants as well as materials. A studio that can think artistically while remaining technically grounded. A team that can deliver a coherent project from the first sketch to the final planting.
They want a garden that feels meaningful, lasting, and personal.
That is what we do.
Looking for a landscape architect in Paris?
If you are looking for a landscape architect in Paris, a design-build garden company, or a team capable of creating a sustainable and artistic outdoor space, contact Simonson Landscape to discuss your project.
Whether you are planning a garden, terrace, courtyard, rooftop, or larger landscape transformation, we create outdoor spaces rooted in ecology, built with expertise, and designed to improve everyday life.
Because a great garden is never just planted. It is conceived, shaped, and built with vision.