GARDEN 26
Meet our team of garden design professionals.
HELEN LAMBRAKIS
Helen Lambrakis first discovered her love of gardening as a young child spending summers in Greece on her paternal grandparents’ olive and raisin farm. During this time Helen learned gardening skills and, most importantly, the hard work required to produce a successful harvest.
Living in NYC, Helen learned the art of urban gardening from her maternal grandmother who enjoyed nurturing plants in everything from flowerpots to old shoes. Helen also learned from these experiences that gardening was an opportunity to strengthen bonds and social connections.
Helen earned a BA in Art and Archeology from CUNY’s Queens College and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from City College of New York’s Urban Landscape Program. Helen began working under her mentor, acclaimed Landscape Designer Madison Cox who encouraged Helen to explore and find her own strength and voice in the international garden design world. She and Erik Moraillon launched GARDEN 26 in 2009.
ERIK MORAILLON
Erik Moraillon has always been surrounded by and fascinated with nature. In childhood he took care of his family garden in Mayenne, France and started taking Bonsai class at 10 years old. He later studied in the Baccalaureate in Biology program in Evron, France and furthered his studies in Paris at Ecole Fenelon and Ecole Du Breuil, earning his degree in Landscape Drawing and Design.
He continued formal landscape studies in the United States as an international student in the MAST Program at the University of Minnesota and later completed additional advanced coursework at Pratt Institute and the New York Botanical Garden in New York City. Before becoming principal of Garden 26, Erik gained 10 years’ experience with the esteemed landscape design firm of Madison Cox Associates, working on US and international projects.
As a senior landscape designer and project manager, Erik leads international and US high-end residential and commercial projects. He has mastered diverse landscape design skills through his extensive technical and plant knowledge across many climate zones.
Omid Iravanipour
Omid Iravanipour studied Architecture in Iran and followed his passion to earn a Master of Landscape Architecture at CCNY in New York. He has been a part of the Garden 26 team Since 2014. He says, “When I’m not gardening, I am dancing and when I am not doing either I might be dead!”
CAMILA SAMPEDRO
Camila Sampedro earned her bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Javeriana University of Bogota, Colombia after which she worked on public and urban space design. She received her Master of Landscape Architecture from the City College of New York in 2017. Her hobbies include drawing, with a special interest in botanical illustration.
Nora CHUFF
Nora earned her Master of Landscape Architecture and Master of Design Studies with Distinction from Harvard University. In 2015, she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Art from New York University, where she double majored in Studio Art and Art History. Prior to Garden 26, Nora has worked on NYC Parks projects as a design consultant at Nancy Owens Studio. She enjoys skiing, yoga, audiobooks and hiking with her dog, Eckbo.
Michael SHEPARD
Michael Shepard earned his Bachelor of Science in Ecology and has had experience in social science, ecological restoration, and historical preservation before he earned his Master of Landscape Architecture from CCNY. In his free time, he likes to hike, boulder, and play volleyball
Alba HYSAJ
Alba Hysaj studied Engineering and Architecture in Prishtina, Kosovo, before earning her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture at City College of New York. Her passion for design led her to explore landscape architecture at Garden 26. Alba’s favorite part of landscape architecture is creating aesthetic harmony through plants. In her free time, she loves skiing, dancing, and practicing gymnastics.
Caelin COX-GONZALES
Caelin graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture. He gained several years of experience working in Phoenix as a landscape designer before moving to Manhattan. Outside of work, he enjoys sketching, going out to eat,
hiking, and jogging in Central Park
YUNLIN ZHU
Yunlin Zhu was born in China and earned her Master of Arts Management. When not at Garden 26, she enjoys making photos and illustrations, practicing Chinese calligraphy and writing.