Dewi-Prys Thomas
{{Short description|Welsh architect (1916–1985)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date= June 2021}}
{{Use British English|date= June 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dewi-Prys Thomas
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1916
| birth_place = Liverpool, England
| death_date = 1985
| death_place =
| education = University of Liverpool
| occupation = Architect, academic
| known for = head of the Welsh School of Architecture
| spouse =
| children =
}}
Dewi-Prys Thomas (1916–1985) was a Welsh architect and academic.{{cite web|url=http://www.dewi-prysthomas.org/|title=The Dewi-Prys Thomas Trust|publisher=}} He was the first professor of architecture at the University of Wales and was also the head of the Welsh School of Architecture, where he instituted a new Department of Town Planning.{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://www.dewi-prysthomas.org/biog-en.html|website=Dewi-Prys Thomas Trust|accessdate=7 January 2017}}
Life and career
Thomas was born to a Welsh family in Liverpool in 1916. Initially he wanted to become an artist, but was persuaded to study architecture by Lionel Bailey Budden. He graduated First Class Honours from the University of Liverpool in 1939, and then went to study town planning under William Holford.
He spent the next seven years working with various architects in Cardiff, including contributions to the Alwyn Lloyd and Herbert Jackson South Wales Outline Plan. In 1947 he returned to Liverpool to teach at the Liverpool School of Architecture, where he presently became a senior lecturer. During this time he also worked in a private architecture practice, and Cedarwood, a house he designed with Gerald Beech in the Liverpool suburb of Woolton, was named "House of the Year" in 1960 by Woman's Journal.{{cite book|author=The Twentieth Century Society|title=100 Houses 100 Years|location=London|publisher=Batsford|year=2017|isbn=9781849944373}}
He returned to Wales once again in 1960 to head the Welsh School of Architecture, where he would remain until his retirement in 1981. After retirement as a teacher, Thomas returned to practical architecture once more, contributing to the design of Y Pencadlys (County Hall) in Caernarfon, the headquarters of Gwynedd County Council, executed by the Council's architects Merfyn Roberts and Terry Potter 1982–86.
Outside of his work, Thomas was also well known as an environmental campaigner, regularly petitioning on behalf of such organisations as Civic Trust for Wales and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales. He also served as a commissioner on the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, and a member of the Gorsedd of Bards.
Legacy
The triennial Dewi-Prys Thomas Prize is awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects, and "recognizes the importance of good design to the quality of life, identity and regeneration of Wales".{{cite web|url=https://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Contactus/NewsAndPress/Membernews/RSAWnews/Dewi-PrysThomasPrize2015.aspx|title=Dewi-Prys Thomas Prize 2015|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://civictrustcymru.org.uk/?p=193|title=The Dewi-Prys Thomas Prize 2015 - Civic Trust Cymru (formerly The Civic Trust for Wales)|publisher=}}
His papers are held by the National Library of Wales.{{cite web|url=https://archives.library.wales/index.php/dewi-prys-thomas-papers|title=Dewi-Prys Thomas Papers, - National Library of Wales Archives and Manuscripts|publisher=}}
References
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