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Johannes La Grouw

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Johannes La Grouw
Self portrait, 2001
Born(1913-08-24)24 August 1913
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Died20 September 2011(2011-09-20) (aged 98)
Rotorua, New Zealand
Spouse
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

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ Taylor, Alister. NEW ZEALANDERS WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN PEACE AND WAR. THE NEW ZEALAND ROLL OF HONOUR, 1845-1995, p. 612.
  2. ^ Campbell, Phil (21 September 2011). "Lockwood founder dies in Rotorua". Rotorua Review. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  3. ^ "No. 52564". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 15 June 1991. p. 30.
  4. ^ "Johannes Le Grouw". New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 23 January 2017.