Temple of Peace and Health - Cardiff, Wales, UK - Architecture Prizes on Waymarking.com

The architect:-

Sir Percy Edward Thomas OBE (13 September 1883 – 19 August 1969) was a Welsh architect and twice president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA: 1935-37 & 1943-46).


He was born in South Shields, the son of a sea captain from Narberth with whom the family often travelled. They moved to Cardiff during the 1890s, and Captain Thomas died at sea in 1897. Percy Thomas began work in a shipping office, but changed to a career in architecture on the advice of a phrenologist. In 1903 he won the architecture competition at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Llanelli. After several years working in England, he began collaborating with Ivor Jones of Cardiff, and they went into partnership in 1913. In 1915 he joined the Artists Rifles and served on the Western Front, and when World War I finished he returned to Cardiff. He was later commissioned by David Davies, 1st Baron Davies of Llandinam, to design the Temple of Peace and Health in Cathays Park.


As a designer of civic buildings, such as Swansea Guildhall (1930–34) and Hiatt Baker Hall (1966) he was on a par with Arthur John Hope. Other works by him include the campus of University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He was awarded the Royal Gold Medal in 1939, and was knighted in 1946.

The Building:-

In founding the Temple, Lord David Davies (1880-1944), a First World War veteran, wished to combine the ideals of peace and health. He also wanted these two great humanitarian causes to be expressed in the design of the building. The architect was Sir Percy Thomas, who was awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Bronze Medal for its design. The Temple is made from materials from various countries, to emphasise the international nature of the work carried out inside. It was opened on 23 November 1938, and is now a Grade II listed building.

Since its inception, the Temple of Peace and Health has been divided between two sets of occupants. The first two were the League of Nations Union Welsh National Council, and the King Edward VII National Memorial Association. Now, it is the Welsh Centre for International Affairs and Public Health Wales which share the building.

Architect: Sir Percy Thomas Prize received: RIBA Royal Gold Medal In what year: 1939 Website about the Architect: [Web Link] Website about the building: [Web Link]

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