Hanns Blumer, a well-known Stellenbosch-based architect and building historian passed away recently in the Mediclinic Vergelen after complications with pneumonia and related issues.
Blumer was an architect at Dennis Moss Partnerships for many years who was well-known in Stellenbosch for his work on the restoration of historic buildings for which Stellenbosch is so renowned.
Throughout his career he worked in the Boland area, primarily for the Dennis Moss Partnership as a senior architect.
He loved his work and was as particular about doing things the “right way” as one imagines most Germans to be.
As such he was perfectly suited to the work of a heritage architect, supervising the restoration of buildings in the Stellenbosch area back to their historic magnificence.
He has managed to pass on not only his wealth of specialist knowledge but also his passion for his work so that it lives on and preserve the heritage that is so unique to the buildings of Stellenbosch.
Other than the work he did as a heritage specialist, he also played a key role in numerous developments in and around Stellenbosch.
He managed the Asara wine estate project and served on the building control committee for the De Zalze wine estate for the last 10 years.
Other historical buildings projects he was involved in, include the Fredericksburg homestead and outbuildings in Simondium, Klein Cabriere wine cellar in Franschhoek, the Sendinggestig Church/Museum in Cape Town, Het Gesticht Church/Museum in Paarl, the Boschendal wine cellar and outbuildings and the old horse stables in Mostert’s Drift.
