Ben van Berkel studied architecture at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and at the Architectural Association in London, receiving the AA Diploma with Honours in 1987.

In 1988 he and Caroline Bos set up UNStudio, an architectural practice in Amsterdam. Current projects include the STH BNK by Beulah mixed-use development in Melbourne, the ChamartÍn Station masterplan in Madrid, ‘Four’ a large-scale mixed-use project in Frankfurt and the wasl Tower in Dubai.

With UNStudio he realised amongst others the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Arnhem central Station in the Netherlands, the Raffles City mixed-use development in Hangzhou, the Canaletto Tower in London, a private villa up-state New York and the Singapore University of Technology and Design.

Ben van Berkel has lectured and taught at many architectural schools around the world. From 2011 to 2018 he held the Kenzo Tange Visiting Professor's Chair at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, where he continues to lead a studio on health and the built environment. He is also currently the IE School of Architecture and Design MArch Thesis Chair. In 2017, Ben van Berkel also gave a TEDx presentation about health and architecture. In addition, from 2017 to 2021 he was a member of the Taskforce Team / Advisory Board Construction Industry for the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Portrait: ©Els Zweerink