Marpa
Marpa is a Boulder, Colorado-based landscape architecture and construction firm offering architect-led design-build services. Using a Contemplative Design approach rooted in Japanese Zen garden traditions, the firm serves residential homeowners and commercial/institutional clients across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersBoulder, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Marpa does
Marpa is a Boulder, Colorado-based landscape architecture and construction firm operating under an architect-led design-build model. The firm designs and builds landscape projects for residential homeowners (primary segment) and commercial/institutional clients including botanical gardens, educational campuses, religious retreats, and mixed-use redevelopments. Marpa has completed hundreds of projects across the United States spanning scales from small home landscapes to large private estates.
The firm's core offering is its Contemplative Design methodology, a design philosophy the company traces to the master builders of Japanese Zen gardens. Under this approach, Project Managers serve dual roles — acting as lead designers during the design phase and transitioning to construction managers during implementation. This integrated model is intended to preserve design intent through construction and provides clients with a single point of contact from concept sketch through project completion. Marpa assembles teams of trusted subcontractors and artisans tailored to each project and maintains year-round construction capability including winter builds. Martin Mosko serves as Founder and Head of Contemplative Design.
Marpa generates revenue through two professional services streams: Landscape Architecture & Design Services (from concept through construction documentation) and Construction Management Services (where the firm acts as owner's representative and, on smaller-scale residential projects, transitions to a Landscape General Contractor role). Pricing is project-based, custom to each engagement, and not publicly disclosed. Distribution is entirely direct — clients reach out via a website inquiry form or email — with marketing driven by an extensive project portfolio on the firm's website. The firm is privately held, with 1-10 employees, and operates from a single headquarters at 1539 Pearl Street in Boulder.
Marpa firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Marpa
- Legal name
- Marpa
- Website
- https://marpa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Marpa is a Boulder, Colorado-based landscape architecture and construction firm offering architect-led design-build services. Using a Contemplative Design approach rooted in Japanese Zen garden traditions, the firm serves residential homeowners and commercial/institutional clients across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Marpa is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boulder
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Marpa business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Landscape Architecture & Design Services: Full-service landscape architecture from concept sketch through construction documentation. Project Managers lead design phase and transition to construction management/administration during implementation. Typically assembles teams of trusted subcontractors best suited for each project.
- Construction Management Services: Manages quality of product, schedules work, coordinates installation, and acts as owner's representative throughout construction process. On smaller-scale and residential projects, transitions from 'Landscape Architect' to 'Landscape General Contractor' role to oversee construction of own designs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels1 record
Marpa product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Marpa is an architect-led design-build landscape architecture firm offering full-service landscape design, custom features, and construction administration/management. Project Managers lead design during the design phase and transition to construction management during implementation, providing clients with a single point of contact from concept sketch through construction completion. The firm's Contemplative Design approach is rooted in the master builders of Japanese Zen garden traditions, emphasizing ecologically functional, architecturally integrated landscapes with nuanced details and artistic moments.
Product overview
Marpa is a single integrated product/service offering — an architect-led design build landscape architecture firm. Rather than a modular software platform, the firm provides end-to-end landscape design and construction services where the same Project Manager leads the design phase and transitions to construction management. Services include landscape architecture design, custom features, and construction administration/management across residential, commercial, and institutional projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Landscape Architecture & Construction Services Full-service landscape architecture firm offering architect-led design-build services, managing projects from concept sketch through construction completion. Includes custom features, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration for residential homeowners, commercial clients, and institutional projects.
Companies that use Marpa
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Marpa technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Marpa partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Marpa competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- OLIN: Philadelphia-headquartered landscape architecture and urban design studio known for high-design public, cultural, and institutional landscapes. Shares Marpa's focus on architecturally integrated, ecologically functional, and detail-driven work.
- Studio-MLA: Landscape architecture studio with strong portfolio in cultural, civic, and high-end residential projects across North America. Comparable studio model and emphasis on detailed, ecologically functional design to Marpa.
- Wenk Associates: Denver-area landscape architecture and planning firm with portfolios in mixed-use redevelopments, campuses, and parks. Comparable to Marpa on Colorado-based institutional and mixed-use project typologies.
- James Corner Field Operations: New York landscape architecture and urban design practice known for high-profile, design-forward public realm and cultural projects. Comparable to Marpa in design ambition and institutional client focus.
- Civitas: Denver-based urban design and landscape architecture firm working on mixed-use redevelopments, campuses, and public realm — overlapping with Marpa on Colorado-based institutional and mixed-use projects.
- Design Workshop: Established US landscape architecture firm with strong Colorado presence and a similarly integrated design practice spanning residential, institutional, and urban projects. Comparable to Marpa in scale of ambition and project typology mix.
- Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture: San Francisco Bay Area landscape practice renowned for detail-rich residential and institutional gardens. Closely comparable to Marpa in residential estate focus, design-craft orientation, and boutique studio scale.
- Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates: Brooklyn-based landscape architecture firm celebrated for high-design public parks, campuses, and cultural landscapes. Highly comparable aesthetic caliber and project typology to Marpa's contemplative, experience-driven approach.
- LandArc: Boulder- and Aspen-based landscape architecture firm working on high-end residential, resort, and institutional projects across the Mountain West — overlapping directly with Marpa's geography and luxury-residential market.
Broad incumbents
- SWA Group: One of the largest US landscape architecture practices, with deep portfolio experience in parks, campuses, and mixed-use redevelopments. A broader incumbent that competes with Marpa for institutional and large-scale commissions but at materially larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Marpa social profiles
Digital presenceMarpa financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Marpa leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Marpa funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Marpa M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Marpa
What does Marpa do?
Marpa is an architect-led design-build landscape architecture firm offering full-service landscape design, custom features, and construction administration/management. Project Managers lead design during the design phase and transition to construction management during implementation, providing clients with a single point of contact from concept sketch through construction completion. The firm's Contemplative Design approach is rooted in the master builders of Japanese Zen garden traditions, emphasizing ecologically functional, architecturally integrated landscapes with nuanced details and artistic moments.
Is Marpa a public or private company?
Marpa is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Marpa founded?
Marpa was founded in 1974. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Marpa based?
Marpa is headquartered in Boulder, United States, in the North America region.
How does Marpa make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Landscape Architecture & Design Services are the primary driver. The others are construction Management Services.
Who are Marpa's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are OLIN, Studio-MLA, Wenk Associates, James Corner Field Operations, Civitas, Design Workshop, Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates and LandArc. SWA Group is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Marpa have an API?
No public API is recorded for Marpa.