The brilliant engineer Dr. K. Poologasundram began consulting with Geoffrey Bawa informally in 1960 while the latter was working with the State Cement Corporation and by 1966 they were equal partners at Edwards Reid and Begg. They would go on to run the firm together for 3 decades. Dr. K. Poologasundram’s engineering prowess helped bring Geoffrey’s designs to life and in our interview he reminisces about projects including the Parliament, Bentota Beach Hotel and Ruhunu University.

Curator, Shayari de Silva met Dr. K. Poologasundram at his home in Colombo, a short walk away from their former office situated at No. 2 Alfred House Road. He speaks about the rewarding and challenging nature of working with a uniquely gifted architect like Geoffrey. Dr. K. Poologasundram’s shared stories on how to operate a practice, and it was clear that the implicit understanding between him and Geoffrey on the creative and organizational requirements of architecture was what allowed them to realize so many incredible buildings together.

The Oral Histories Project is an ongoing endeavour that will continue after the centenary year celebrations, and the Trust encourages submissions of potential historians and anecdotes to archives@gbtrust.net.

Oral Histories: Dr. K. Poologasundram

'Conversations Drawing from the Geoffrey Bawa Archives' is a virtual series of discussions between scholars who have engaged with the Bawa Archives and contributed to the upcoming publication 'It is Essential to be There: Drawing from the Geoffrey Bawa Archives'. The publication will accompany the forthcoming exhibition of the same name. Stay tuned for more information on both the book and exhibition.

In this conversation 'Archives and Places', Shayari de Silva and Tariq Jazeel present their research about the Bawa Archives and the role of such repositories in studying Modern Architectural history. 

Shayari de Silva |  It is Essential to be There
Tariq Jazeel | Rendering Place
Moderated by Thilini Perera

Watch this presentation on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/geoffreybawatrust

Archives And Places

'Conversations Drawing from the Geoffrey Bawa Archives' is a virtual series of discussions between scholars who have engaged with the Bawa Archives and contributed to the upcoming publication 'It is Essential to be There: Drawing from the Geoffrey Bawa Archives'. The publication will accompany the forthcoming exhibition of the same name. Stay tuned for more information on both the book and exhibition.

In this conversation 'Resorts, Reports and Recollections', Shirley Surya and Meghal Perera use the archives to look at the Batujimbar Development in Bali and the Galle Face Green specifically, and they are joined by Channa Daswatte who shared first-hand anecdotes to discuss the role of the drawings in Bawa’s practice.

Shirley Surya  | Place, Flows, and Transformations – Bawa in Bali
Meghal Perera | The Unbuilt Urban in Bawa’s Galle Face Green Report
Channa Daswatte | Drawing Stories
Moderated by Shayari de Silva

Watch this presentation on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/geoffreybawatrust

Reports, Resorts and Recollections

'Conversations Drawing from the Geoffrey Bawa Archives' is a virtual series of discussions between scholars who have engaged with the Bawa Archives and contributed to the upcoming publication 'It is Essential to be There: Drawing from the Geoffrey Bawa Archives'. The publication will accompany the forthcoming exhibition of the same name. Stay tuned for more information on both the book and exhibition.

In this conversation 'Maps and Modernism', the speakers explore the creation of a sense of place in Bawa’s work, Jyoti Dhar looks at ways of drawing Lunuganga particularly, and Sean Anderson examines relationships with Modern Architecture. 

Jyoti Dhar | Lore of Lunuganga
Sean Anderson | Vanishing Points
Moderated by Shayari de Silva

Watch this presentation on our YouTube Channel:
www.youtube.com/geoffreybawatrust

Maps and Modernism

In 2019, as part of the artistic programme commemorating Geoffrey Bawa’s 100th birthday, Lunuganga hosted a series of installations by artists and makers from Sri Lanka and abroad, in a series where the garden was explored as a site of hospitality and a place of encounter. Each artist responded to Bawa’s practice and his garden through a unique, site-specific work developed over an almost two-year period. Launched in January 2020 on the cusp of a global pandemic, the works endured a time of unprecedented uncertainty, and offered pause for reflection on the meanings of generosity and intimacy.

Marking the closing of The Gift, the five artists, Kengo Kuma, Lee Mingwei, Chandragupta Thenuwara, Dayanita Singh and Dominic Sansoni will speak with Suhanya Raffel, (Executive Director at M+ Museum in Hong Kong and trustee, Geoffrey Bawa and Lunuganga Trust) about their experiences and processes making and engaging with work in this last year.

The Gift: Closing Conversation

The Geoffrey Bawa Trust is delighted to host renowned designer, publisher and educator Lars Müller for a conversation about making books. Lars works out of Zurich and has been publishing since 1983, with a focus on books on architecture, design, photography, art and society.

Publishing and Architecture: A conversation with Lars Müller

A conversation with architect, theorist and writer Keller Easterling, where knowing how, rather than knowing that, can provide potentials for working. Keller is a professor at Yale University and her work has been published and exhibited extensively. This conversation was moderated by the curator of the Art and Archival Collections of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, Shayari de Silva.

This conversation is part of the public programme of the exhibition 'Geoffrey Bawa: It is Essential to be There'. For more information visit bawaexhibition.com

Medium Design: A conversation with Keller Easterling

Taking Geoffrey Bawa’s approach that the architectural response to a place was specific to its particular topography and climate but also its larger environmental, social, and political context, we explore the interplay between architecture and the environment with a conversation on the making of the Kandalama Hotel with Project Architect Dilshan Ferdinando, engineer Deepal Wickremasinghe and former Chairman of Aitken Spence PLC, Prema Cooray.

A Very Particular Response: A Conversation on the Making of the Kandalama Hotel

In celebration of the Lunuganga gardens 75th anniversary, Tree Talks podcast explores the lives of flora and ecosystems within the gardens. Bought on the eve of independence in 1948, Lunuganga is Geoffrey Bawa’s first and longest running architectural endeavour, join us as we unravel the intricacies of this living archive.

This episode is a walk through Lunuganga on a cool January day with Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, naturalist, photographer and author of 'A Naturalist Guide to the Trees of Sri Lanka'. Gehan uncovers the intricacies of Lunuganga's flora and the fauna that flourish in its embrace as he reflects on the histories and migrations of select trees along the path and the influence of humans on globalised horticulture.

This episode follows a path from the Reading Room to the Field of Jars passing by the Jackfruit, Bilin, Mahogany, Mango, Araliya, Na, Fishtail Palm and Hora trees. A map with the sites and sounds of this episode along with other resources are available on our websites.

To Lunuganga: https://lunuganga.garden/Tree-Talks-EP01-Rooted-Histories
Geoffrey Bawa Trust: geoffreybawa.com/tree-talks

Special thanks to Mr Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne for his expertise and animated exploration of Lunuganga and Shamin de Silva for editing and sound design in this episode.

Tree Talks: Rooted Histories

In celebration of the Lunuganga gardens 75th anniversary, Tree Talks podcast explores the lives of flora and ecosystems within the gardens. Bought on the eve of independence in 1948, Lunuganga is Geoffrey Bawa’s first and longest running architectural endeavour, join us as we unravel the intricacies of this living archive.

This episode is an exploration of pigment extractions and the human connection to trees through craft with Fashion Designer and Researcher Sanjeewa Wijesundara. Sanjeewa expounds upon the nuances and diversity of pigments and the processes used throughout history for extraction. With the help of select trees he reflects on the intimacy between colourist and plants nourished through technical experimentation and respectful curiosity.

This episode follows a path from the Field of Jars to the East Terrace passing by the Kumbuk, Cashew, Jackfruit, Mahogany, Tamarind and Hibiscus trees. A map with the sites and sounds of this episode along with other resources are available on our websites.

To Lunuganga: https://lunuganga.garden/Tree-Talks-EP02-Plant-Pigments
Geoffrey Bawa Trust: https://geoffreybawa.com/tree-talks

Special thanks to Mr Sanjeewa Wijesundara for his insight and passion for bringing natural dye extraction to the popular discourse and Shamin de Silva for the editing and sound design of this episode.

Tree Talks: Plant Pigments

In celebration of the Lunuganga gardens 75th anniversary, Tree Talks podcast explores the lives of flora and ecosystems within the gardens. Bought on the eve of independence in 1948, Lunuganga is Geoffrey Bawa’s first and longest running architectural endeavour, join us as we unravel the intricacies of this living archive.

The Moonamal tree placed so meticulously on the crest of Cinnamon Hill lawn draws one's eye from the Main House to the Dedduwa Lake. Its sprawling branches offer shade and respite to those making their way toward the Southern bank of the lake. Dedduwa lake is avowed for mystic folklore, most interestingly the lore of the spirit of a monk that resides abode a tree on the lake’s Honduwa island. 

Stories passed down from generations can often have an interconnectedness with nature. In this episode ayurvedic expert and cultural anthropologist Dr Danister Perera delves into the cultural and spiritual curiosities of trees like Moonamal that have inspired creators and storytellers, gathered sages and devotees and healed minds and bodies over the centuries.  

'To Lunuganga' webpage: https://lunuganga.garden/Tree-Talks-EP03-Shaded-Divinity
Geoffrey Bawa Trust: geoffreybawa.com/tree-talks

Tree Talks: Shaded Divinity

In celebration of the Lunuganga gardens 75th anniversary, Tree Talks podcast explores the lives of flora and ecosystems within the gardens. Bought on the eve of independence in 1948, Lunuganga is Geoffrey Bawa’s first and longest running architectural endeavour, join us as we unravel the intricacies of this living archive.

Architect Aquila Peris shares tales about the garden and his time spent there with Geoffrey Bawa as he walks along his favourite trail at Lunuganga. The garden holds many unexpected and inconspicuous curiosities; items that intrigued, inspired and even influenced Bawa’s practice. This episode is a nod to the spirit of the garden and the notions behind its creation.

This episode draws a path from the Black Pavilion up the stairs to the entrance of the Main House and around to the beloved frangipani tree. A map with the sites and sounds of this episode along with other resources are available on our websites. 

To Lunuganga: https://lunuganga.garden/Tree-Talks
Geoffrey Bawa Trust: geoffreybawa.com/tree-talks

Special thanks to Aquila Peris for sharing his intimate knowledge of Lunuganga and Shamin de Silva for the editing and sound design of this episode.

Tree Talks: A Tree Story

The Gift: A site-specific installation series at Lunuganga. Panel Discussion featuring the participating Artists
Dominic Sansoni
Lee Mingwei
Chandragupta Thenuwara 
Dayanita Singh

Moderated by:
Suhanya Raffel, Executive Director of M+, Hong Kong, and Trustee, Geoffrey Bawa & Lunuganga Trusts
Sean Anderson, Associate Curator of Architecture & Design, MoMA, New York
Shayari de Silva, Curator, Lunuganga Trust

The Gift: panel discussion

Geoffrey Bawa Memorial Lecture 2019 by Kengo Kuma.

Kengo Kuma Memorial Lecture 2019

Geoffrey Bawa Memorial Lecture 2010 by Architect Cecil Balmond, in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Cecil Balmond Memorial Lecture 2010

Geoffrey Bawa Memorial Lecture for 2012 by Bijoy Jain

Bijoy Jain Memorial Lecture 2012

Kate Otten Memorial Lecture 2013

J. Fransisco Serrano and Juan Pablo Serrano Orosco, Geoffrey Bawa Memorial Lecture 2014

J. Fransisco Serrano and Juan Pablo Serrano Orosco Memorial Lecture 2014

Sunethra Bandaranaike, was one of Bawa’s clients (he designed her famous Horagolla Stables home) but more importantly, she was one of his close friends. Sunethra is also a former Chairperson and Trustee of the Geoffrey Bawa and Lunuganga Trusts. Last May, we spoke to Sunethra at her Colombo home. With her flair for storytelling and a focus on detail, she recounted the first time she met Bawa; their collaborative creative vision; and the deep friendship they shared over many decades.

The Oral Histories Project is an ongoing endeavour that will continue after the centenary year celebrations, and the Trust encourages submissions of potential historians and anecdotes to archives@gbtrust.net.

Salt River

Oral Histories: Sunethra Bandaranaike

Anura Ratnavibushana worked with Bawa at Edwards, Reid & Begg during the 60’s and 70’s. Eventually, he left the firm to set up his own practice in the 80’s although he continued to maintain his close connection with Bawa. In 2009, he distilled his passion for architecture and education into a book: “Creating Simplicity—Sri Lankan Tropical Architecture—Design & Landscaping”. This publication is copyright-free and shares many of the drawings and sketches he produced over the years. Accompanied by Bawa’s  and Anura’s close friend, Sunethra Bandaranaike, we spoke to Anura at his home in Colombo. In this episode, Anura runs through his memories of Bawa as a mentor and on the nurturing and generous sides of Bawa’s  personality. He detailed the thrill of working on projects such as the Osaka Expo Pavilion of 1970; and the Steel Corporation Building in Oruwala of 1969.

Oral Histories: Anura Ratnavibhushana

Laki Senanayke’s prolific body of work spans a wide range of media which includes painting, architecture, sculpture and landscape design. More recently, he dived into digital art. Laki began his career as an architectural draughtsman. After losing his first job because he established a trade union, he started working for architect Valentine Gunasekera. At age 18, Laki began working with Geoffrey Bawa at Edwards, Reid and Begg where Valentine was also a partner, eventually leaving the firm a few years later to collaborate with Geoffrey’s dear friend and client Ena de Silva on her Batik workshop. 
Laki and Geoffrey continued to work together on several key projects and Laki did the large-scale murals and reliefs for Geoffrey’s Triton and Neptune Hotels. He also did the chandelier for the Sri Lankan Parliament Chamber — which was inspired by a drawing he did of a double coconut tree at the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and the larger than life sculptural staircase he did at the Lighthouse Hotel in Galle. 

As the interview was conducted above Laki’s welding workshop, please note that jarring sounds can be heard in the following places within the recording; kindly skip over if necessary: 
24:20 – 25:00
27:00 – 29:30
32:05 – 34:20

The Oral Histories Project is an ongoing endeavour that will continue after the centenary year celebrations, and the Trust encourages submissions of potential historians and anecdotes to archives@gbtrust.net.

Oral Histories: Laki Senanayake

Saskia has lived in Sri Lanka since 1982, and the island continues to be a source of inspiration for her work. Her paintings are very personal and yet encompass a wide range of universal concerns through layered imagery. She has exhibited in galleries and biennales in Asia and Europe. Saskia is joined by her partner Pierre Pringiers, a Belgian industrialist and yachtsman. 

Saskia and Pierre spent many years living in properties designed by Geoffrey Bawa; including the Ena de Silva House in Colombo, and Cinnamon Hill Suite in Lunuganga. Saskia exhibited her work at Lunuganga in the early ‘90s, and again in 2017, where she held an exhibition titled “Return to Lunuganga.” Many of her works are in the Geoffrey Bawa Collection and can be seen at Lunuganga and Number 11, Geoffrey’s two homes on the island.

The Oral Histories Project is an ongoing endeavour that will continue after the centenary year celebrations, and the Trust encourages submissions of potential historians and anecdotes to archives@gbtrust.net.

Oral Histories: Saskia Pintelon & Pierre Pringiers

Ismeth Raheem on the programme. Ismeth studied architecture first at the University in Sri Lanka and subsequently at the Royal Academy of Arts in Copenhagen. He worked at Geoffrey’s firm, Edwards, Reid & Begg between 1968 and 1976, on a number of key projects such as the Connemara Hotel in Madras, the Serendib Hotel in Bentota and the Agrarian Research and Training Institute in Colombo. He also designed furniture and created artwork for the various projects handled by the firm. He spoke of his time studying in Copenhagen and coming back to Sri Lanka, only to be faced with working within the constraints of the closed economy. Ismeth also recalls his favourite time at ER&B, which was when he was living and working in south India, highlighting Geoffrey’s ability to form diversely talented teams and to play to the strengths of his collaborators.

The Oral Histories Project is an ongoing endeavour that will continue after the centenary year celebrations, and the Trust encourages submissions of potential historians and anecdotes to archives@gbtrust.net.

Oral Histories: Ismeth Raheem

Dominic Sansoni knew Geoffrey Bawa from a very early age, as his mother, artist and textile designer Barbara Sansoni, was a close friend and collaborator of Geoffrey’s. Dominic spends much of his time adding to and cataloguing his extensive archive of work, spanning the last 30 years from Sri Lanka, India, Mauritius, the Maldives, Nepal, Yemen and others 

Dominic discusses—often in amusing detail—his collaboration with Swiss architect Christoph Bon on the publication ‘Lunuganga’: a book which documents and explores Bawa's garden at Bentota, which was first released in 1990. It was Christoph Bon, along with Joe Chamberlain and Geoffrey Powell, who were responsible for the design  of the Barbican Arts Centre in London.

Dominic also talks about the joy of revisiting Lunuganga over the past 3 decades, and on his recent installation for “The Gift”, as part of the Bawa 100 programme, a celebration of Geoffrey’s centennial birth anniversary.

The Oral Histories Project is an ongoing endeavour that will continue after the centenary year celebrations, and the Trust encourages submissions of potential historians and anecdotes to archives@gbtrust.net.

Oral Histories: Dominic Sansoni

British architect and educator David Robson authored a number of publications on Geoffrey Bawa and he has also been documenting the architectural landscape in Sri Lanka and southeast Asia.

David recalls meeting Geoffrey for the first time at the age of 25, when he came to Sri Lanka from England as a lecturer for the Department of Architecture, which was under the Faculty of Natural Sciences in Colombo. I met him at the guest suite at Number 11, Geoffrey Bawa’s residence in Colombo, where David himself had spent many days while working on his books. He discussed how his first publication titled Geoffrey Bawa: the Complete Works came into being, and how Geoffrey and his work have continued to fascinate him over the many years of his research. David remains amazed at the fact that Geoffrey Bawa took up architecture relatively late in life; having qualified as an architect at the age of 38, after first qualifying and practising as a lawyer.  He describes the unique style of architectural drawing that comes of Geoffrey’s practice and their continued influence. David also acknowledges the many engineers and architects that were an integral component of Geoffrey’s practice and were in fact the reason some of the bigger projects like the Parliament, Ruhunu University and Kandalama Hotel could be realised.

The Oral Histories Project is an ongoing endeavour that will continue after the centenary year celebrations, and the Trust encourages submissions of potential historians and anecdotes to archives@gbtrust.net.

Oral Histories: David Robson

Suhanya Raffel and her husband Michael Snelling; Suhanya is the executive director of the M+ Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District of Hong Kong, and a Trustee of the Geoffrey Bawa and Lunuganga Trusts. She has previously held many senior positions at major art institutions in Sydney and Brisbane. Growing up in the Raffel House that was designed by Geoffrey, Suhanya reflects on her friendship with the architect who became a lifelong family friend after the commission of the house.

Michael Snelling has an extensive professional background in arts management, artistic direction and education. Most recently, he was Director and CEO of the National Art School in Sydney. He was founding director of the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair and Artistic Director of the Institute of Modern Art in Brisbane. 
He is also a photographer, writer and curator, and has held lecturing positions at universities in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane. He has been publisher and editor of titles in the areas of art history and criticism and numerous exhibition catalogues. Michael Snelling recalls an amusing story from his first meeting with Geoffrey and of the ease in which he is able to photograph spaces designed by the architect.

In this episode, you will hear excerpts from my interviews with Suhanya and Michael individually first and then together.

The Oral Histories Project is an ongoing endeavour that will continue after the centenary year celebrations, and the Trust encourages submissions of potential historians and anecdotes to archives@gbtrust.net.

Oral Histories: Suhanya Raffel & Michael Snelling

Philip Fowler was one of the four young Indian architects who were hired by Geoffrey Bawa’s practice, Edwards, Reid and Begg in the 1980s to assist on the design of the new Sri Lankan Parliament. Philip ended up staying on for 7 years; working  on the Triton Hotel, the Druvi de Saram house and the Horagolla Stables, amongst other projects.
He returned to India in 1987 and joined Sankar & Associates. In 2007, Philip, together with his wife Mini, founded the practice Fowler & Fowler. Philip is a keen conservationist and completed the listing of the major heritage buildings of Coimbatore for the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, and was instrumental in saving the (now restored) Victoria Town Hall from destruction. Philip recounts many amusing stories from his time at Edwards, Reid and Begg and speaks about the symbiotic relationship between Geoffrey and his partner at the firm, Dr. Poologasundaram.

The Oral Histories Project is an ongoing endeavour that will continue after the centenary year celebrations, and the Trust encourages submissions of potential historians and anecdotes to archives@gbtrust.net.

Oral Histories: Philip Fowler

Channa Daswatte is the current Chairperson of the Geoffrey Bawa and Lunuganga Trusts. Channa worked with Geoffrey in his later years, starting with the landmark project which is the Kandalama Hotel. He was also an equal partner in Geoffrey Bawa Associates, which was founded after the closure of Edwards, Reid & Begg. 

Channa, together with Murad Ismail, then went on to set up the practice MICD Associates. The practice is responsible for many iconic buildings both in Sri Lanka and overseas, most recently having completed the renovation of the Bentota Beach Hotel. He is the author of the publications ‘Sri Lanka Style: Tropical Design & Architecture’ and ‘Colonial Period Furniture in the Geoffrey Bawa Collection’. Channa recalls with humour and detail, the experience of being a young architect in Geoffrey’s office, while shedding light on Geoffrey’s process of design, including  the theatricality of  his conception of space and place.

The Oral Histories Project is an ongoing endeavour that will continue after the centenary year celebrations, and the Trust encourages submissions of potential historians and anecdotes to archives@gbtrust.net.

Oral Histories: Channa Daswatte

This special episode on our Oral Histories podcast series features a conversation with 4 close friends–architects Amila de Mel, Channa Daswatte, Jaime de la Pena and Sumangala Jayathilake. The conversation takes place at Number 11, Geoffrey Bawa’s residence, in the office; the same space in which they all worked with Geoffrey as young architects in the late ’80s and early ’90s. They discussed their experience of working on landmark projects such as the Kandalama Hotel and the Singapore Cloud Centre, and the atmosphere of working in the office at this time; the last phase of Bawa’s practice and a unique period in which several important projects were designed.

The Oral Histories Project is an ongoing endeavour that will continue after the centenary year celebrations, and the Trust encourages submissions of potential historians and anecdotes to archives@gbtrust.net.

Oral Histories: Amila de Mel, Channa Daswatte, Jaime de la Peña & Sumangala Jayatillaka

The Sri Lankan Architect Geoffrey Bawa is one of the most important and influential Asian architects of the 20th century. The podcast of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust builds on the repository of information available on Bawa and his practice, as well as the discourse on art and architecture in the island, through oral histories, lectures and discussions.

Popular tracks by Geoffrey Bawa Trust