Jona is a born Amsterdammer, and as a child technology and biology caught his interest. But what to do after secondary school? His twin sister drew his attention to a course in industrial product design. It did indeed suit him. During an internship he developed a bicycle rack with a fold-out mechanism that meant it could also serve as a park bench.
He went to work at IPV Delft, where he soon discovered a fondness for designing bridges. With a couple of colleagues he also became absorbed in computational design and the question of how to involve knowledge of construction at an earlier stage in the design process.
After almost ten years at IPV, he joined ZJA in May 2023. He was pleasantly struck by the great curiosity everyone here shows for new ideas and untrodden paths.
‘At ZJA they’re very advanced at computational design; I can learn a lot from that. It’s inspiring, as is the interaction between designs, and making models and running tests.’
He has a preference for infrastructure projects, especially bridges. He values the freedom he experiences when designing bridges for cyclists and pedestrians. The lighter loads make for an attractive balance between technology, form and surroundings.
And when he’s not working?
‘Then I’m with my family, and I do a lot of DIY at home. I like birdwatching and going for beautiful walks. When the children are a bit bigger there might be time to pick up cycle racing again. Now I’m still an aspiring racer and the bike is on soft tyres in the shed.’