Thord Ingemar Thorstensson Lorich (March 27, 1918 - November 17, 2006) was an Australian architect and design consultant. His firm, Thord Lorich & Associates, were behind the design of numerous commercial and industrial buildings in the Melbourne area. Born at Fredrikstad, Norway, he served as a Master Sergeant in the Swedish military during World War II before migrating to Melbourne, Australia in the late 1940s.[1] [2] [3]
In 1966, the Forest Hill Heights corporation contracted his company to design a theatre, executive offices building, sports centre, restaurant, and a strip of shops for their Forest Hill Shopping Centre, completed 1967–69.[4] [5] His company also designed 'Beneficial House' for Rochalie Industries c. 1974.[6] Lorich was a timekeeper for the Hawthorn Football Club and became a life member in 1985.[7] He was also an avid golfer and member of the Victorian Veterans Golf Association, who named a trophy competition after him in recognition of the work he did for the club.[8] His son, Robert Lorich, worked and trained as an architectural draftsman in the 1970s and began a long and successful partnership with John Coghlan AM in 1990, which eventually became Buildspect & Co, a building consultancy practice.[9] [10] Thord died at age 88 on November 17, 2006, and is buried at the Lilydale Lawn Cemetery.