Geoffrey Bawa was a visionary Sri Lankan architect who was celebrated for his ability to harmonise architecture with nature and local culture.
His innovative designs have profoundly influenced modern architecture across South Asia, earning him international acclaim.
An exhibition titled ‘Geoffrey Bawa: It is Essential to be There,’ held at the Yale Architecture Gallery, unveiled Bawa’s remarkable yet lesser known life and work to American audiences.
Chief curator Shayari de Silva – who is an alumna of Yale – highlighted iconic projects such as the Ena de Silva House, Kandalama Hotel and Bawa’s own garden Lunuganga, illustrating how they enrich our understanding of Bawa’s legacy.
Originally debuting at Park Street Mews in Colombo in 2022, the exhibition drew over 7,600 visitors and showcased 120 original documents arranged in four thematic sections, exploring relationships between ideas, drawings, buildings and places.
In 2023, it travelled to the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Sri Lanka.
The exhibition attracted more than 28,000 attendees.
Geoffrey Bawa: It is Essential to be There sets a new benchmark for presenting architectural work in Sri Lanka, bringing the subject to the forefront of cultural discourse and opening exciting avenues for further exploration of architectural history, and its impact on contemporary design and cultural identity.