Beyond Bawa

Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa was among the most influential figures in South Asia in the latter half of the twentieth century. In houses, hotels, public buildings, and perhaps his greatest achievement, his residential complex in Lunuganga, Bawa achieved the harmonious and pleasurable fusion of local building traditions with modern forms. His legacy lives on in current architectural practice and remains an important source of inspiration for generations of architects. Bawa was the...
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Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa was among the most influential figures in South Asia in the latter half of the twentieth century. In houses, hotels, public buildings, and perhaps his greatest achievement, his residential complex in Lunuganga, Bawa achieved the harmonious and pleasurable fusion of local building traditions with modern forms. His legacy lives on in current architectural practice and remains an important source of inspiration for generations of architects. Bawa was the principal force behind what is today known globally as “tropical modernism,” and examples of his ideas can be found in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Bali, and in resorts and residences throughout wider Asia.The book first presents a useful overview of Bawa and his contribution to contemporary architecture. The main section highlights the achievements of twenty-four contemporary architects, ranging from well-known practitioners such as Australian Kerry Hill to local talents such as Sri Lankan Anjalendran. The works they have created over the past ten years reveal the long-lasting significance of Bawa’s approach to building and the landscape.