More about »Exhibition poster: »Geoffrey Bawa: Architecture for the Senses««
Geoffrey Bawa is widely regarded as one of the most influential architects of twentieth-century Asia. Over five decades, he developed an architectural language that combined the ideals of modernism with landscape, climate, and cultural context. His buildings are not conceived as isolated objects but as spatial experiences that unfold through light, vegetation, and topography.
The Kandalama Hotel (1991–94) is among Bawa’s most celebrated works and is often considered the fullest expression of his architectural vision. Built along a rocky outcrop and enveloped by dense vegetation, the hotel appears to merge with the surrounding jungle. Architecture and nature do not stand in opposition here but form a living whole—an idea that lies at the heart of Bawa’s approach to Tropical Modernism.
With »Geoffrey Bawa: Architecture for the Senses«, the Vitra Design Museum presents present the first major retrospective of the Sri Lankan architect in two decades. Bringing together more than 250 exhibits, the exhibition explores Bawa’s understanding of architecture as a sensory experience and reveals the enduring relevance of his work today.
