Memory of the Designed Landscape
Jan Vallen and Ben Taken
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 directed by Ben Taken between 1985 and 2010. Their work has had a lasting influence on the spatial development of Limburg, with designs based on urban greenery and zoning plans, such as the water recreation area of the Noorderplas.
The archive is of great value because it reflects the development of the profession between the 1950s and 2010. It shows how landscape design became a basis for urban planning and architecture and provides an insight into spatial planning in the Netherlands.
Despite the value of the archive, its storage is fragmented and largely in non-professional locations, with risks of loss, contamination and deterioration. The lack of digital publications and the age of the original designer magnify the risk of losing important knowledge. It is therefore vital to safeguard this unique archive.