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Passion for art and architecture

Charles Ramon Thomas architect b July 23, 1928 d April 26, 2022

Christchurch architect Charles Ramon Thomas, who died in April aged 93, shared his enduring passion for art and architecture with his large family, and has left an enduring legacy in the form of churches, houses and buildings of all kinds.

Charles Thomas was born in Christchurch in 1928 and grew up in Sydenham as one of nine children.

He attended Christchurch Boys’ High School, where his creative talent was recognised and one of the teachers encouraged him to study architecture.

He studied at Auckland University in the years immediately following World War II, and was influenced by the work of contemporary modern architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier.

It was while he lived in Auckland that he met Anne, who would become his wife and with whom they had nine children.

After graduating, Charles moved back to Christchurch where he worked for Griffiths Architects and then Hall & Mackenzie Architects. It was not long before he started his own practice, Charles Thomas & Associates, in 1962.

‘‘It was not easy juggling a growing family of nine children and an architectural practice.

‘‘Charles and Anne made many sacrifices along the way,’’ recalled his son, Simon, also an architect, who now heads the practice together with brother Nicholas.

‘‘Work started to come in and the practice became very busy.’’

Over the ensuing six decades, the practice has been successfully involved in a large portfolio encompassing architecture, interior design and landscape design. Projects included churches, university buildings, community buildings, houses, apartment buildings, hotels, office buildings, schools and industrial complexes.

‘‘Charles believed that buildings should respect the environment that they are built in and that the building form should follow its function,’’ Simon said.

There were many highlights in Charles’s architectural career, he said.

Of significance is the Catholic Church Our Lady of Victories, in Sockburn, and the apartment building at 9 Cranmer Square, known as CharAnn (an amalgam of Charles and Anne), which was his residence up until the Canterbury earthquakes.

The apartment building was badly damaged and had to be demolished.

Christchurch journalist David Killick visited the apartment in 1999 and it featured on the cover of At Home in The Press newspaper.

Charles spoke of how he enjoyed living in the inner city and how he had designed the building to enhance the cityscape.

He made some of his own furniture and also painted an impressive mural.

‘‘Murals in the gallery, in acrylic, convey the scene he first painted when he got married, an interpretation of the Garden of Eden during the day and at night. Abundant greenery conveys a tropical feeling, enhanced by songbirds in the main room.’’

Our Lady of Victories Church was built in 1968 and has received four New Zealand Institute of Architects awards, the last award a New Zealand enduring award in 2005.

The church sustained very little damage as a result of the earthquakes and still stands today as a testament to Charles’ skill as an architect.

‘‘It is a masterpiece of architecture in terms of form, structure and the resultant power of spiritual connection,’’ Simon said.

‘‘I remember the original crucifix mounted on the Holy Trinity panel directly above the altar being constructed by Charles on the veranda of our family home.’’

The church appeared in the publication, Worship: A History of New Zealand Church Design, by Bill McKay.

‘‘We recently received a note from Merv Higgs, who was the foreman on the construction of the church. He expressed how he to this day is very proud to have been a part of the construction.’’

Charles was also a talented artist and orator and a member of the Canterbury debating team.

‘‘It would be fair to say that Charles’ family life took precedence over his architectural life,’’ Simon said.

He was a loving and proud husband, father, grandfather, and greatgrandfather to nine children, 27 grandchildren, and 14 greatgrandchildren.

‘‘Charles followed his dreams and faced life’s challenges head on, never giving up. He will be greatly missed,’’ Simon said.

Obituaries

en-nz

2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/282102050296821

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