Contact Artefacts
please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.
MenuHomeUpfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon | HAARHOFF, Francois DennisBorn: 1938 04 28ArchitectSACA:Reg No: 2643 Year registered: 1967 | |||
BArch (Cape Town) Dennis Francois Haarhoff was schooled in Port Elizabeth at the Technical College, where he played for the First Rugby Team and later represented Eastern Province in long distance running. After matriculating Dennis studied Architecture at the University of Cape Town and graduated in June 1967 - at which ceremony the graduates were capped by Harry Oppenheimer. Dennis married Hilary Clear in 1967 and the couple were to have two daughters, Lisa and Natalie and a son, Nicholas. Dennis' career with OSMOND LANGE ARCHITECTS started when he joined the firm in their Umtata Office in the latter part of 1967. This initial stay in Umtata was brief as Dennis moved to the East London office, where he stayed for three years. He became a partner of OSMOND LANGE in 1969 and the name of the practice was changed to OSMOND LANGE VANDEVERRE & HAARHOFF to reflect the new partnership arrangement. The practice name changed shortly thereafter to OSMOND LANGE VANDEVERRE HAARHOFF & GOLDSWAIN, and subsequently to OSMOND LANGE VANDEVERRE HAARHOFF GOLDSWAIN & BURGER before reverting back to OSMOND LANGE. In January 1972 Dennis took over Osmond Lange's Transkei practice from WC VANDEVERRE and spent nine enjoyable and interesting years in Umtata. In 1979 Dennis was appointed as Managing Director of Osmond Lange - succeeding Barry LANGE. Dennis then relocated to Pretoria in August 1980 to establish and manage the new office there. He was then involved with the growth and expansion of Osmond Lange with offices being established in Durban, King William's Town, Johannesburg, Mafikeng, Pietersburg, Gaborone, Maun and an association with the Zimbabwe practice of Roy DENSEN in Harare (Salisbury). ln the early years Dennis spent much of his time travelling to each of the offices to assist in their establishment and integration into the management of the Osmond Lange national practice. He also managed a property portfolio held by the Partners. By 1997 Dennis was based in Osmond Lange's Johannesburg Office and remained there in a senior management role until his retirement. Dennis moved once again - this time to the Johannesburg Office, in 1986. He was MD of the Practice until Piet KRUGER took over. Kruger was to be succeeded briefly by Clive SHEPHERD and in 1991 by John DOVEY. Dennis remained at the Johannesburg office in a senior management role until his retirement in 2007. Dennis served as a Town Councillor in Umtata (now Mthatha) for three years and was Chairman of the Transkei Arts Association. He was a committee member of the Craighall Park Ratepayers Association in Johannesburg. He was a member of Round Table in East London and Umtata and later a member of Rotary in Umtata, Pretoria and Johannesburg serving as Chairman or President on four occasions and was a nominated member on the National Council of the Round Table Association of South Africa. A major interest in his life has been 'bush trips'- camping with family and friends in the Okavango, Botswana, Caprivi, Zimbabwe and Namibia which is still an annual activity in his retirement. He was also an active member of the Okavango Wildlife Society in Johannesburg serving as Chairman for three years. Dennis and Hilary retired to Knysna in 2007 where he is now Chairman of a local Jetty Club and in his words "is thoroughly enjoying life" in a wonderful environment. References: William Martinson, May 2020. References
| ||||
 |
 |