| Jan Willem Ras
- architect, orchestrator of events and raconteur – was
born in Bloemfontein on 31 October 1956, and obtained his B
Arch degree at the University of the Free State in 1985. He
started his own practice in 1989 and practices from the historic
Fichardt House in the heart of Bloemfontein. He has been a lecturer
at the Department of Architecture at the University of the Free
State since 1989. Jan has remained a true and loyal son of Bloemfontein
– ’n Bloemfonteiner in murg en been!
Jan has been a recipient of a SAIA Award of Merit and several
honourable mentions for his projects. But it is through his
considerable contribution to the South African Institute of
Architects over the years that Jan has excelled as leader,
organiser and promoter of the profession. He has shown boundless
dedication to both the discipline and ethics of the profession.
He has served on the Free State Institute of Architects regional
committee since 1988, immediately becoming involved in institute
matters after registration as a young architect. He has been
a vocal, enthusiastic and committed member of the SAIA Board
of Representatives since 1997, and served as President of
SAIA from August 2002 until August 2004.
Jan’s presidency marked a distinct rationalisation
and coordination of the various SAIA sub-committees’
tasks to focus on results and provide greater accountability
to the membership. Under his guidance the Awards of Merit
programme was regionalised in an effort to encourage, recognise
and widen member participation. He has always been committed
to the promotion of Architecture to the layperson and to the
profession at large, putting promotion of the profession before
personal advancement.
Due to his outstanding organisational abilities, the name
Jan Ras is synonymous with student and SAIA conferences nationally.
He has made Bloemfontein the epi-centre for architectural
activities - not only through his lateral approach to making
memorable events using creative and stylish means at the biennial
SAIA conferences, but also in orchestrating and fiercely championing
the celebrated annual Sophia Gray Memorial Lecture at the
University of the Free State.
Jan’s infectious enthusiasm and selfless efforts in
promoting the profession, together with his sense of humour,
has endeared him to members of SAIA and students of architecture
alike. His contributions in his other fields of interest go
largely unsung – he has over the years been active in
the Botanical Society, Educare Trust, theatre foundation,
church and the Bloemspruit Regiment – the latter truly
earning Jan the title of an officer and a gentleman!
It is for his dedication to promoting the profession and
for his outstanding and lasting contribution to the learned
society that Jan Willem Ras is awarded Life Membership of
the South African Institute of Architects.
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