It is with great sadness that we have learned about the passing of our friend and  colleague, the esteemed conservationist and urbanist Nicolas Baumann, who died on his birthday (that he shared with his twin brother Sean) on the 7th January 2025.

Nicolas was always principled and committed to authentic urban values, the protection of historical cities and towns, and the conservation of Cape farmsteads and the cultural landscape. As a heritage consultant he viewed new developments through a committed vision and lens for appropriate re-development, preservation and respect for the past.

As a partner in the Revel Fox Architects practice he was involved in exceptional legacy  projects - extraordinary examples of adaptive re-use and restoration. These include the Breakwater Prison on Portswood Ridge at the V&A that was sensitively converted into the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business and the alluring restoration of parts of Groot Constantia - the pool at the Wine Cellar forecourt and the Wine Cellar at the  entrance gates.

He undertook numerous surveys and conservation plans for historic places and served as  heritage consultant - for The V&A Waterfront, Simon's Town, the Overberg and for Drakenstein Municipality, and undertook conservation plans that became benchmarks for Boschendal, Groot Constantia and Vergelegen. Many of the latter projects were undertaken with his long-time associate and colleague, Sarah Winter.

Victoria and Alfred Waterfront - Heritage Portal - June 2016 - 1.jpg

The V&A Waterfront

Boschendal - Heritage Portal - 2018 - 1.jpg

Boschendal (The Heritage Portal)

Nicolas was always approachable and his knowledge and judgement as Heritage Practitioner was highly regarded by architects and colleagues. He served on the Cape Institute for Architecture's Heritage Committee for many years and worked closely with many architects on sensitive projects over the years. His gentle personality, modesty and  good nature made him both a dear friend and an esteemed colleague.

One of the words that Nicolas used for his assessments was 'notable' and the word was also applicable in social terms for his assessment of talented architects, rugby players, beautiful women, good wine and interesting raconteurs. He was a character and a dear  friend. He will surely be remembered and missed by us for many reasons.

Our heartfelt condolences and thoughts are with his family and friends during this time.

Quoted from an Obituary by the Association of Heritage Assessment Practitioners:

Nicolas Baumann was undoubtedly one of the most prominent heritage consultants in private practice in the Western Cape for the last 30 years. Working  out of the office of Revel Fox (his uncle) he conducted various important surveys of Cape Town as well as heritage reports (notably Groot Constantia) that served as benchmarks as the profession developed. His work at the V&A Waterfront provided the groundwork for the heritage conservation of that vital part of Cape Town. Nicolas provided outstanding conservation skills while maintaining the calm demeanour that was so much part of his personality.

Nicolas Baumann held a Master’s degree (MCRP) from UCT, an MSC (Ox.Br) and a Doctorate in Conservation Studies from the University of York. He was involved in heritage consultancy work, initially as a partner at Revel Fox & Partners and subsequently in his own practice. He participated in heritage surveys for the Table Mountain National Park, the V&A Waterfront, the Parliamentary Precinct in Cape Town as well as for the Municipalities of Overstrand, Drakenstein, Swartland and Mossel Bay. Together with Sarah Winter he was responsible for the CMP for the  Nelson Mandela Prison House at Drakenstein Correctional Facility and the heritage component of the Overstrand Spatial Development Framework and many other significant projects. He was a member of the Cape Institute of Architects Heritage Committee and the Built Environment and Landscape Committee of  Heritage Western Cape. He also served on the Heritage Oversight Committee of  Vergelegen in Somerset West.

When the Association of Heritage Assessment Practitioners (or AHAP as it was  then) was founded in 2003, Nicolas played an important part in setting the foundations, most notably as the principal author of the Code of Ethics. These founding documents have guided what became the Association of Professional Heritage Practitioners (APHP).

Nicolas served on various committees of Heritage Western Cape (HWC) from the  time of the establishment of the organisation. He had for many years, until the time of his death, served as a member of the HWC Appeals Committee. Nicolas could always be relied on to provide sound advice when faced with complex ethical  issues.

There is no doubt that the passing of Nicolas will leave a big space in his professional and social world. He is survived by his wife Manina, daughter Maria and son Daniel, as well his first grandchild, Audra.