Geoffrey Bawa Architect and Legend NO 11, 33RD LANE, BAGATELLE ROAD…

9 March 2018 11:47 am Words : Lakmini Wijemanne Photos : Nirmala Dhananjaya Every profession has its very own giant who is known to exemplify the said profession by his/her expertise. Architecture in Sri Lanka is a topic that can not be mentioned without the mention of Geoffrey Bawa. There are quite a few masterpieces of Bawa architecture dotting the island that are studies of masterful engagement  of natural light, ventilation and space to create most comfortable living spaces that are relaxing to the mind and the eye… Geoffrey Bawa was a lawyer turned architect who was born to a wealthy Moslem lawyer and his Burgher wife. An old boy of Royal College, Bawa studied Law in London and returned to Sri Lanka, but soon realized that law was not for him. He then embarked shortly on a world tour at the end of  which he was very  interested in creating a garden in the fashion of Italian gardens. Though he initially planned to have his garden in Italy, it was not to be, due to existing Italian laws, which brought him back home to Sri Lanka where he bought an old rubber estate and transformed it in to what is today known as the “Brief” garden in Bentota. The garden project kindled in him an interest in architecture which took him back to London to study architecture at the Architectural Association in Bedford Square, London. Returning to Sri Lanka, Geoffrey started work  and  joined as a  junior partner with Edward Reid and Begg, a firm of architects operating from the Colombo Fort. To create his own home, in 1959 Geoffrey rented the third of a row of four small bungalows in a tiny alley at the end of 33rd Lane off Bagatelle Road. The creation of No. 11 thus began… Please click on the link below to read full article., https://www.magzter.com/LK/Wijeya-Newspapers-Ltd./Lanka-Woman/Women’s-Interest/