Johannes La Grouw
Johannes La Grouw OBE | |
---|---|
Born | Amsterdam, the Netherlands | 24 August 1913
Died | 20 September 2011 Rotorua, New Zealand | (aged 98)
Spouse(s) | Johanna Hillegonda Lalk
(m. 1939–2009) |
Parent(s) | Johannas La Grouw Maria Elizabeth La Grouw, Dieperveen |
Johannes La Grouw OBE (24 August 1913 – 20 September 2011) was a Dutch-born New Zealand architect, engineer, businessman, artist and philanthropist. La Grouw developed a special patented house manufacturing system constructed of solid wood that eventually became a New Zealand icon for housing that can withstand the forces of nature, yet fit in nicely with them.
Background[]
La Grouw was educated at Higher Technical School for Architecture and Engineering. He was a building contractor in Amsterdam, Holland, from 1948 to 1951. He was founding director of Lockwood Buildings Ltd. He was a life member of Outward Bound Trust.[1]
New Zealand company[]
La Grouw and Johannes Van Loghem (the co-founders of Lockwood Homes) began their unique company in 1951, by importing prefabricated homes from the Netherlands when Dutch migrants brought in crates of their own homes because of a building shortage.[2] The company flourished and became a big player in the New Zealand construction industry.
Honours[]
In the 1991 Queen's Birthday Honours, La Grouw was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the building and construction industry.[3]
La Grouw was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2007 for his revolutionary house construction system and contributions to business in New Zealand and abroad.[4]
References[]
- ^ Taylor, Alister. NEW ZEALANDERS WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN PEACE AND WAR. THE NEW ZEALAND ROLL OF HONOUR, 1845-1995, p. 612.
- ^ Campbell, Phil (21 September 2011). "Lockwood founder dies in Rotorua". Rotorua Review. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ "No. 52564". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 15 June 1991. p. 30.
- ^ "Johannes Le Grouw". New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- 1913 births
- 2011 deaths
- New Zealand businesspeople
- Businesspeople from Amsterdam
- Dutch emigrants to New Zealand
- New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire