Piet Boon: The Dutch Master of Interior Design and Architecture

After three-decades of gathering a vast portfolio of design experience under his wings, Dutch designer Piet Boon is considered as a visionary in the field of architecture today and is known for being a starchitect- which is a portmanteau to describe architects who have received celebrity acclaim for their work, making them world famous idols in the world of design.

Some of his most prolific achievements include winning the ‘Best Restaurant Design’ in 2015 for designing the infamous theme-based restaurant based in Belgium called ‘The Jane’ for its modern-meets-gothic interior style. Boon has also won the German Design Award for ‘Excellent Product Design’ in 2020 for creating the most innovative and artistic ‘Arc’ door handle. 

The Journey of Piet Boon

The Dutch architect initially entered the design world as a constructor in the small village of Oostzaan in Amsterdam, where he helped people build customized and tailor-made homes. While Boon was spectacular at his job, it was the process of working with limited creative resources that bothered him. He found it challenging to come up with designs that were functional yet something that also catered to what his client were looking for.

After years of contemplating with idea of starting his own business, Boon launched his design agency in 1983 called Studio Piet Boon. This creative venture not only deals with architecture but entails the entire package of curating the design process from scratch. Planning, designing, developing, styling and decorating- Studio Piet Boon is a one-stop shop for all things functional and sophisticated.

“Functionality to this day forms the starting point of everything we do. With our roots in craftsmanship and construction, our highly skilled designers seamlessly blend reason and ratio in any design.”

Following his instinct, Boon went on to create a stir in the design world within the very first year of his business with his simplistic process and creative mind. He scouted for inspiration in the most off-beat things that his clients found amusing. Yet, when they experienced the end result of his vision- it all came together perfectly.

In 1986 he was joined by Karin Meyn, a joint business partner who had been employed as the Creative Director of Interior and Styling at Studio Piet Boon. Together, they went on to create some of the most outstanding work across 46 countries around the world. It was the most exposure the brand had ever seen. Together, they managed a skillful team of international architects, designers and stylists who came together to create the most magical sites, that not only satisfied their clients but also gained laurels of global appreciation for their work.

A Boon For The Design World

While the concept of luxury homes and furniture was already familiar during the development of the brand, Piet Boon always had the vision to bring minimalism and luxury together in a perfect balance. He believed that luxury did not always have to equate to over-the-top or exaggerated.

In his creations, he brings simple elements together in a way that makes it look exclusive. He believes that the key concept to designing a space is to pay attention to the natural elements and work around that. For instance, it is essential to know where the sun hits, which rooms have the best ventilation and in which direction does the house receive wind. Based on these natural elements, he creates his designs which are catered to bringing magic to these natural elements.

From a technical perspective, the idea of craftsmanship and construction are the most important factor to the company and form the basis of their design skills. Every piece is created with utmost consideration in terms of the color combination, style, shape and aesthetic. Every Piet Boon furniture piece is known to be seamlessly created with skill, intuition and knowledge.

While every design is unique to the client and the brands creation, the process of creation remains the same. A detailed understanding of what the client’s lifestyle looks like and how they intend to use the space forms the foundation for creating bespoke design concepts. He believes that a home is built to last and therefore refined minimalism, exceptional quality and functional yet long-lasting furniture pieces would be the best way to describe Piet Boon projects.

Piet Boon Architecture Projects

The company has built a great portfolio over the years by catering to corporate, private and commercial clients by designing residential homes, offices, restaurants, penthouses and entire neighborhoods. After creating a successful career in the Architecture space, Boon wanted to expand his business by venturing g into more aspects of design.

In 2003 he launched his line of luxury furniture and lighting fixtures, which became immensely popular and is still sold under the brand name in over 34 countries today. He also ventured into car designing and designed a limited edition version of the Range Rover Sport in 2006, using a two-toned combination of black and gray.

Product designs is another collection that encompasses exclusive luxury for living and dining commodities. The Piet Boon outdoor range is the essence of designers that create timeless and functional pieces that are highly durable.

One of the most popular Piet Boon designs is the Floating Home. Studio Piet Boon was responsible for designing an entire floating neighborhood in Almere. The area was surrounded by water on three sides and the clients were looking for something minimalistic yet luxurious.

Boon designed a houseboat, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, to enhance the natural beauty surrounding the structure. It was built across two-floors with a shell-shaped structure with the bedrooms and basement constructed below the waterline, offering a thrilling underwater view. 

Collaborations

In terms of collaborations, Piet Boon has been incredibly selective and has only ever worked with brands that fit the brand’s personality. The design studio scouts for brands that create licensed products and are innovative in terms of providing luxury designs and services that match the excellence of Piet Boon. Over the years, the studio has collaborated with top luxury brands such as Rosewood Halfmoon Bay, Moooi, Range Rover and many more.

Recently, studio Piet Boon completed two luxury condominium projects in NYC known as ‘Huys’ and ‘Oosten’. While the apartments at Huys sold out last year, Oosten is to be completed by fall. The ‘Oosten’ project has already created history by selling a 5091 square feet penthouse in its full price which was listed at a whopping $6.49 million, making it the most expensive home to be sold in the South Williamsburg neighborhood.