Lucila Silva-Santisteban

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT LUCILA SILVA-SANTISTEBAN

I’m a landscape and urban designer based in New York City with a background in architecture and urbanism, with 10 years of global experience in landscape architecture projects varying from urban, commercial, institutional scales to high-end commercial and residential types. As a design researcher by heart and landscape designer I am passionate about addressing the critical challenges between the built environment and the natural world. My projects aim to enhance people’s lives and create ecological solutions through a holistic and sustainable approach, tackling projects of all scales in response to the effects of climate change. No project is small enough to create a positive ecological impact. Coming from Latin America I have a deep respect for the land and its potential, I integrate practical sustainability strategies—such as water-efficient planting, climate-adapted materials, and resilient site planning—to reduce environmental impact while maintaining design excellence. I’m especially interested in how mapping and visualization tools can streamline planning, showcase solutions, help with land diagnosis, reduce risk, and support informed land-use decisions.My work focuses in creating landscapes that are not only beautiful and functional, but also durable, cost-effective, and responsive to real-world needs. By aligning strong design with long-term performance, I aim to help clients and communities create spaces that are adaptable, efficient, and built to thrive.