John Boon

Background

About John Boon

As a young boy, I would walk annually with my father through the Bovenkarspel Flora to admire my grandfather's prize-winning tulips. Once home, I would take out my coloured pencils and sketchbook and start drawing gardens myself. About thirty years later, with a bachelor's and master's degree under my belt, I became the head designer of the Floriade 2012 in Venlo. During that period, I began to understand better the contribution greenery makes to our lives. This aligns seamlessly with the Arcadis motto:"Improving quality of life." Those words are easy to write, but how do you truly give them meaning? I strive to do so by designing the physical living environment in a way that contributes to our health. Outdoor spaces that invite movement, where one can enjoy greenery, where the air is clean, and there is no noise disturbance. Spaces that are clean and safe, where you can meet other people. Naturally, these places must be functional, sustainable, and beautiful. Fortunately, I don’t do this alone. My advisory group consists of three teams – Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, and Valuable Outdoor Areas – with amazing people. And if we don't have the expertise within our own advisory group, we find it among other Arcadis colleagues in the Netherlands or beyond. I also find the good collaboration with our clients and their stakeholders crucial. Together, we make our cities and rural areas healthier, more resilient, and more biodiverse. My grandfather cherished the prizes he won with his tulips; they were prominently displayed on the sideboard in the front room. Nowadays, my team also wins beautiful prizes like the European Garden Award and the City Scape Award. They are not on my sideboard at home but in a cabinet in our studio. I am immensely proud of them! Improving Quality of life. https://landscape-architects.nl/en