VALE BEVAN REES FRAIA

Educated in Launceston, Bevan lost interest in a degree in mathematics and drifted into engineering with a cadetship at EZ, only for a career diversion into architecture in the office of Philip Lighton Floyd and Beattie, while completing studies at the Hobart Technical College in 1968.

Under the influence of Alan Floyd he designed the Motors Pty Ltd showroom which received the Triennial Award in 1971. An important building only recently demolished and acclaimed for its ability to be sympathetic to its historical context without sacrificing its modern aspirations…a design approach adopted well before the creation of the Burra Charter. At Bush Parkes Shugg and Moon in the early 1970’s he was to be instrumental in another Triennial Award building, the Clarence Municipal Chambers building which recently received the Enduring Architecture Award.

But with the formation of Heffernan Nation Rees in 1973, and later with Viney, Tasmanian architecture would achieve national recognition for their original interpretation of early modern Corbusier ideas of white cubism, rejecting the historicist approach to post modernism, and drawing an affinity with the work of the New York Five. The conversion of an inner-city motor garage into a veterinary practice and residence is characteristic of this work and again achieving the Tasmanian Enduring Architecture Award.

In 1980 Bevan pursued a broader design practice under his own name, with major planning and conservation studies including the first detailed assessment of Sullivan’s Cove. His work was characterised by innovative adaptive reuse projects and in the next few decades Bevan would go on to achieve further award recognition with the Galleria Salamanca redevelopment in 1987 and the Ordnance Store on Castray Esplanade in 1995.

Within the Institute Bevan has been at the heart of our community. An associate in 1973 and Fellow in 1982, Bevan was instrumental in the creation of the first chapter newsletter titled The Issue. Throughout the 1970’s, one day a month, the office would devote the day to writing and publishing the news and events of the month with comical hand drawn cartoons alongside practice information.

Bevan would also organise CPD luncheon seminars with local politicians and prominent community members for open discussions on urban and design issues as well as organising the annual dinner complete with ‘theatrical interpretations’. Bevan was a leading organiser for the Institute’s National Conventions in 1974 and 1994 which remain highly memorable for their often outrageous, but always creative presentation, utilising local Tasmanian artistic and theatrical talent.

Bevan was the instigator of the Tasmanian Architectural Narratives series, held at Cranbook in 1998, 2004 and 2007, which Bevan developed from the first ‘Offshore Conference’ on Bruny Island in 1989 with Leigh Woolley, the ‘weekends away’ were community gatherings of Tasmanian architects and friends where ideas, good food and performance interplayed.

It seems that community has been central to the life of Bevan Rees Architect. As architects we appreciate the level of commitment that is required to achieve a significant contribution in architecture. Bevan’s contribution has been immense and outstanding.

In a presentation to the 1987 Student Oceanic Biennial, Bevan dispelled the ‘magic’ of the architectural profession as perceived by students stating that in practice, architecture would be wonderful if there were no clients at all … ‘and in view of this architectural reality he was really into events and celebrations’.

We gratefully acknowledge his contribution to Tasmanian architecture.