Heinz Frick - In Memoriam

Posted on Nov 16th, 2009 home title

HEINZ FRICK

Assoc.Prof. Dr.Ir. Arch. SIA
15 NOVEMBER 1943 – 3 NOVEMBER 2009

IN MEMORIAM

Heinz Frick, a citizen of Liechtenstein, always ready to serve, belongs to the pioneers of both intensively sustainable architecture and bridging East and West. He learned various professions as carpenter, engineer, architect, researcher, teacher, and organizer, all from the basics up. He not only propagated a (w)holistic approach in building, but he practiced it as well. Heinz regularly traveled – researching – throughout the world, mostly accompanied by Regula, his wife, who also assisted him. Frick worked in Europe with an office in Ruggell, and in different parts of Asia, like Indonesia and Nepal.

Heinz Frick built bridges in Kalimantan (Borneo), was connected to the Universitas Diponegro Semarang, and he built houses in Switzerland. Frick’s library reached a size of more than 3000 valuable books. He established the Lingkungan-Manusia-Bangunan – LMB, the Institute for Man-Building-Environment in Java, and he wrote ten’s of scientific, technical, and educational books, mostly in Bhasa Indonesian language.

Heinz Frick was member of the Swiss Association of Architects and Engineers – SIA. He became an Ir. (after the Dutch model of university engineer) by decree of the Indonesian vice president, and he successfully defended his doctorate thesis on “Structures of Indonesian Building Technology, a development of a methodical base for a ‘constructive pattern language’ in Indonesia” at the Eindhoven University of Technology on 17.1.1995.

If there had not been exaggerated bureaucracy, Heinz Frick would have become an Indonesian citizen and a professor at the Universitas Katolik Soegijapranata, while he was already living in a very hospitable house designed by himself in the midst of a local community in Semarang. Hence, he gave his valedictory lecture as an associate professor. Frick belonged to the boards of the Swiss Community of Interests in Building-Biology – SIB, (1991) and the Global Network of Organisations for Environmentally-COnscious and Healthy Building – ECOHB (1992).

Heinz Frick received The ‘Binding’ Award for Environmental Protection for his activities in the field of bio-logical building, and the ECOHB Award for his intensive co-operation with the Global Network. Later he became the editor in chief of the ECOHB NEWS LETTER.

Heinz Frick was an all-round expert for many-sided projects and an outstanding active and efficient personality. He dedicated his creativity, energy, and perseverance to his highly valuable work. We deeply regret his much too early passing-away, which might have been the effect of work with asbestos during his carpenter’s apprenticeship.

We painfully miss our unforgettable Heinz who was a dear friend and respectable colleague. Our very best wishes are with Heinz Frick on the path on which he went ahead, and we wish much strength for his wife, Regula, their sons and families with their heavy loss.

Gabriella Pal-Schmid
&
Peter Schmid
(supervisor of the doctorate thesis of Heinz Frick, on behalf of a number of colleague-doctores, and the Global Network ECOHB)