Sri Lanka’s most beloved and iconic architect, Geoffrey Bawa is renowned across the world for his incredible designs which won him the title ‘father of Asian architecture’. Although Bawa’s legacy is scattered across the island – beautiful buildings which are now enchanting hotels – he lived and worked in Colombo for many years. This guided tour gives you an insight in Bawa’s city life – where he lived and where he worked – and also covers the work of some of his notable friends who were leading figures in various arts industries, including Barbara, the founder of Barefoot; Minette, Sri Lanka’s first female architect, and Ena de Silva who specialized in creating beautiful batiks.

Experience Overview

This guided tour of ‘Bawa’s Colombo’ is led by a local who is knowledgeable about Geoffrey Bawa and has taken a great interest in his works. It begins at his residency, Number 11, the center-point of his city life, where you will hear many fascinating stories about his time here and see samples of the furniture he had designed for hotels. . Then make your way to Seema Malaka Temple of Beira Lake, one of the city’s most iconic cultural sites which appears to be floating serenely on top of the water. You will then wend your way to Gallery Café, which was once Bawa’s studio and is now one of Colombo’s most coveted restaurants, for a drink and a chance to see the magnificence of his designs with your own eyes. In addition to his architectural designs, learn about Bawa's personal life and the many risks he took to be an architect at the age of 38 although he was a qualified lawyer.

Includes:

host, a drink at Gallery Café, entrance to Number 11

Suitable for children?

The tour can be tailored to older kids

What to wear or bring along:

Light, cool clothing, and a hat. A camera.

Duration:

2-2.5 hours

Times:

10am, 2pm and 3:30pm

About the Host

Your host is a native of Colombo and is passionate about creating authentic and soulful experiences that showcase the beauty of the island’s variety. With a keen interest in giving back to the community and travel, your host enjoys riding his motorbike to far off places during his free time.

Gallery

The life and works of Geoffrey Bawa – Colombo - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style

Videos

Managing Expectations

“ It is important to remember that, whilst they are experts in their field, the people who run or host our experiences are not necessarily used to working in the tourism industry and may not offer the level of service you would find at a five-star hotel. For example, instead of a formal lecture, you may get a relaxed conversation where open discussion is encouraged. All of our hosts are, however, extremely engaging, knowledgeable and passionate about educating visitors about their chosen subject and we have worked with them to ensure that they deliver worthwhile, fulfilling experiences. We welcome feedback, so please let us know what you thought and if you think any improvements could be made to the experiences we offer. ”

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The life and works of Geoffrey Bawa – Colombo