For over thirty years, HMWhite has shaped landscapes that value human well-being, ecological intelligence, and the importance of community. We believe the designed landscape is one of the most enduring forms of cultural expression and environmental responsibility. Our work spans commercial and residential developments, resort and hospitality environments, private estates, rooftops, and urban green spaces. Each project reconciles layered programmatic and environmental challenges to create places of discovery, social connection, and deeper engagement with the natural world. Clarity of function, material integrity, and spatial richness guide our process.
Rooted in evidence-based design and global thinking, every project responds with local specificity, revealing the unique character and purpose of each site. We strive to create landscapes with a distinct visual identity, high legibility, and timeless sustainability. We blur the boundaries between architecture and landscape to inspire new ways of living outdoors—whether for gathering, play, quiet reflection, or restorative wellness. At the core of our mission is the belief that resilient, high-performing landscapes are essential to shaping a more integrated, equitable, and biophilic future.
Founded in 1993 by Hank White, FASLA, HMWhite is a New York-based landscape architecture studio with a global perspective and a legacy of design excellence. Our team brings decades of collective experience shaped by work across the U.S., the Caribbean, the Middle East, and beyond. While rooted in the ecology of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, our portfolio reflects a deep familiarity with diverse climate zones from tropical to arid, and from coastal to alpine.
We are a collaborative, multidisciplinary group of landscape architects, designers, and technical specialists dedicated to enhancing the environmental performance and cultural identity of each site. Our work is grounded in long-standing partnerships and built on a foundation of intellectual curiosity, design integrity, and commitment to environmental stewardship. We approach every project with craftsmanship, cultural insight, and a shared passion for creating enduring landscapes.
HMWhite designs high-performing landscapes that fuse ecological intelligence with cultural meaning and enduring value. We specialize in projects that demand both innovation and complexity—ranging from private homes and urban rooftops to resort environments, institutional campuses, and commercial or residential developments.
Our work is grounded in decades of collaboration with visionary architects, developers, engineers, and private clients who understand the transformative potential of landscape design. We believe that exceptional landscapes emerge from integrated thinking—where environmental performance, social connectivity, and material expression are inherently linked. Each commission begins with rigorous site analysis, deep contextual research, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Drawing on extensive experience across varied climates, construction methods, and regulatory environments, we craft tailored, resilient solutions that are specific to both place and purpose.
Guided by a consistent design philosophy, we approach every project as an opportunity to reveal and enhance the unique character of a site—the result: landscapes that endure functionally, culturally, and ecologically.
01 - Each situation is unique: each setting deserves meticulous assessment, rigorous analysis, and thoughtful synthesis
02 - Each client’s program deserves a balanced and creative solution, sensitive at all levels to the natural systems and cultural history of its context
As founder of HMWhite in 1993, Hank White continues to lead the firm within its belief that the designed landscape is among the most perpetual and convincing forms of cultural expression and environmental accountability. Over three decades of practice, his work demonstrates the rejuvenating power of landscape. Working at all scales, from a small garden to large public open spaces, his work examines the dichotomy of nature and culture, where responsible and sensitive land cultivation is reconciled by fulfilling the necessities of contemporary life. His firm’s work represents an evidence-based design approach that respects natural ecologies as dynamic models that consistently inform its designs. As a consummate collaborator, he strives to create enduring places where people live, work, and play that inspire deeper connections between people and the natural world. Conventional boundaries between architecture and landscape, infrastructure and beauty are continuously explored while balancing environmental performance with human interaction.
Awarded Fellow in ASLA in 2012, his firm received an ASLA Honor Award in 2013 for the landscape design for Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Visitor Center – an exemplary fusion of building, landscape design, and ecological engineering. HMWhite has recently received multiple awards for Radio Park, an ¾ acre rooftop landscape destination on top of Radio City Music Hall at Rockefeller Center. His team’s work at the Morgan North Post Office redevelopment has been recognized with several industry awards for its 2-acre “office park” rooftop landscape. Known for his noteworthy collaborations with internationally celebrated architects, Hank’s reoccurring work with Renzo Piano Build Workshop began with the New York Times Lobby Garden – considered a NYC landscape landmark. His exemplary residential garden and urban landscape designs have been featured in numerous books and publications. His environmental stewardship extends into his board memberships in civic and environmental non-profit organizations. Hank has served on the Harvard Graduate School of Design Alumni Council and has been nominated for Cooper Hewitt’s National Design Award.
Shigeo Kawasaki is a registered landscape architect with over 27 years that includes a broad spectrum of project types in various locations from the New York metropolitan region to Tokyo, Japan. Growing up and educated in Japan, Shigeo brings distinctive and refreshing perspectives to contemporary landscape design issues. He cultivates “big picture” ideas while skillfully advancing design concepts and reconciling the project objectives and requirements. As a project leader, he has been central to Radio Park the Morgan North landscapes’ design development through its construction. He is currently leading HMWhite’s team with the detailed documentation and construction implementation of a one-of-a-kind 1.25-acre residential rooftop park landscape in Long Island City. He strives to exceed clients’ highest aspirations with each project endeavor while overcoming challenging project circumstances and satisfying ambitious programs within strict budgets and tight project schedules. No matter the project scale, Shigeo maintains his meticulous attention to design details, material selection, finishes, and the coordinated relationships of all a landscape’s components.
Shigeo holds a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from CUNY, City College, and a B.A. in Literature from Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan. His distinct cultural and educational background uniquely informs each project's approach and his dedication to finding ways to enhance discovery in the landscape and further engagement with the natural world.
As a registered architect with over seventeen years of experience in urban design, architecture, and landscape design, Joe’s diverse design and technical knowledge versatility is effectively integrated with each HMWhite project. Since joining HMWhite in 2020 as a project architect, Joe has brought a balanced and creative blend of design exploration with practical experience, adaptability, and resiliency. His previous domestic and international professional experiences include mixed-use urban developments, academic institutions, and private residential projects that provide valuable multi-disciplinary context to his methodical problem-solving approach. As an HMWhite Project Architect, Joe’s prior experiences with existing and new building types are consistently demonstrated through his positively charged collaborative talents with internal and multi-disciplinary project teams. His practical verbal and visual communication skills have been skillfully honed through his diverse architectural expertise – particularly when advocating for the value and measurable benefits of landscape design interventions.
Joe oversees the re-design, reconstruction, and construction implementation of two NYC neighborhood public plazas. His work has accelerated each project’s extensive public review and approval process. Joe has also been central to the design, documentation, and current construction administration of a 1.25-acre rooftop landscape park for a Queens residential in-fill residential development. Since graduating from Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture with Honors, Joe has pursued excellence in design because he believes it is a powerful tool to enhance and embellish the quality of life for individuals and the community.
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