Draft:Ben Taken

• Comment: all new articles on Wikipedia have to show the subject is notable (See WP:N) which in most cases requires significant coverage (WP:SIGCOV) in multiple independent (WP:INDY) reliable sources (WP:RS) KylieTastic (talk) 15:04, 24 December 2024 (UTC)

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Ben Taken
Born	(1933-10-20)October 20, 1933 Wichmond, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Occupation(s)	Landscape Architect, Urban Planner
Known for	Reconstructing historical gardens and parks, integral planning projects

Ir. Ben Taken (born 1933) is a Dutch landscape architect and urban planner known for his expertise in landscape design, planning, and historical garden restoration. He is also recognized for his integrated approach to water management in landscape projects. Ben Taken served as Director of TAKEN Landschapsarchitectuur en Ecologie.

Taken is a political candidate for CDA in municipality of Roerdalen, Netherlands. Taken’s professional contributions to Dutch society has been rewarded with the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Education

Ben Taken studied Landscape Architecture at the Wageningen University & Research, graduating cum laude. His studies included supplementary courses in urban planning, soil science, forestry, and historical geography, providing a broad interdisciplinary foundation for his career.

Career

Ben Taken began his career in landscape architecture in 1962 at Adviesbureau Vallen in Roermond, the only private consultancy in the sector at the time. In 1975, he became Deputy Director at Vallen Landscape Planning and later Director at TAKEN Landschapsarchitectuur en Ecologie, a role he held until 2005. His work encompassed a broad range of projects, blending design, planning, and research, and he was deeply involved in policy advisory work for municipalities, regions, provinces, and national agencies.

Recognized as a landscape architect in 1965, Taken was an active member of several professional organizations, including the Association of Dutch Garden and Landscape Architects and the Working Group for Landscape Ecological Research. He also served as a jury member for design competitions and was nominated for a professorship in Environmental Planning at Delft University of Technology in 1983.

In addition to his directorial role at TAKEN Landschapsarchitectuur en Ecologie (1984–2001), Taken contributed to key committees, including the Committee for Road Infrastructure Consultation of the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (NIROV), the Examinations Committee for Landscape Architects, and the Expert Committee for Environmental Impact Reports (MER). His career has had a lasting impact on landscape architecture in the Netherlands.

Office Archive (1950-2010)

The Vallen-Taken Office Archive documents the work of one of the oldest private landscape architecture firms in the Netherlands, founded by Jan Vallen in 1956 and led by Ben Taken from 1985 to 2010. The archive reflects the firm's influence on Limburg's development, including designs such as the Noorderplas water recreation area. The firm also had a large impact on other parts of the Netherlands including works on the Randstad Groenstructuur - Randstad Green Structure and Herinrichting Veenkoloniën - Reorganization of the Peat Colonies (1970s) Spanning from the 1950s to 2010, the archive offers insights into the evolution of landscape architecture in urban planning. However, it is stored in fragmented conditions, risking loss and deterioration. In 2021, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science commissioned Nieuwe Instituut to explore how to manage archives in garden and landscape architecture, a field lacking a clear repository. A follow-up programme aims to establish a sustainable approach to preserve and share these archives as a public responsibility.

Specializations

• Historical Gardens and Parks: Taken is specialized in the reconstruction of historical gardens and parks, providing detailed plans and advice to restore these sites to their former glory.
• Zoning and Urban Planning: He is also a consultant for zoning plans, offering guidance to ensure compatibility with sustainable landscape development.

Notable Projects

Throughout his career, Ben Taken has been involved in several significant projects, including:

• Landschapsanalyse Noord-en Midden Limburg ten behoeve van Streekplan (1985) – A comprehensive landscape analysis for North and Central Limburg as part of the regional planning process.

• Kröller-Müller Museum: Hoofdstructuur tuin, park, bos – Development of the main structure of the gardens, park, and forest surrounding the Kröller-Müller Museum.

• Herinrichting Maasplassengebied Midden-Limburg – Reorganization and redevelopment of the Maasplassen area in Central Limburg, focusing on enhancing ecological and recreational value.

• Waterlopen Ruilverkaveling Polder Mastenbroek – Designing watercourses as part of a land consolidation project in Polder Mastenbroek, emphasizing effective water management.

• Reconstructie Landgoed Ter Worm, Heerlen – Reconstruction of the Ter Worm Estate, including its historical gardens and surrounding areas, restoring its cultural and historical significance.

Philosophy

Taken’s philosophy emphasizes a balance between environmental sustainability, cultural heritage, and functionality. His projects reflect a deep understanding of the relationship between natural and human systems.

See Also

• Landscape architecture
• Urban planning

References

• "Maak kennis met landschapsarchitect van het Dierenbeschermingscentrum Ben Taken". DB Limburg. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2024.

• "Slot: Geheugen van het Ontworpen Landschap". Het Nieuwe Instituut. Retrieved 24 December 2024.

• "Met zonneweides kopen boeren tijd voor natuur, stelt landschapsplanner uit Melick". De Limburger. Retrieved 24 December 2024.

External Links

Landschapsplanning