FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – The Vitra Design Museum in Germany has teamed up with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust to unveil a significant retrospective showcasing the work of the renowned Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa.
Titled “Geoffrey Bawa: Architecture for the Senses,” the exhibition features over 250 items, including drawings, architectural models, furniture, archival videos, artworks, and photographs created by Bawa. Additionally, the exhibition introduces new works by photographer Iwan Baan, who captures the essence of Bawa’s most renowned buildings as they are experienced in daily life.
Designed by architect Lina Ghotmeh, the exhibition’s scenography aims to transform the Vitra Design Museum into an immersive setting that reflects the sensory richness inherent in Bawa’s architectural philosophy. The exhibition was inaugurated on September 25, attracting more than 450 attendees for the opening talk, while over 500 visitors attended on the opening day alone.
Submit Your Press Release
Get your company news, announcements, launches, appointments and events in front of a wider audience.
Geoffrey Bawa (1919–2003) had a prolific career that spanned five decades, during which he completed over 200 projects. He is recognized as one of the most significant architects in Asia during the twentieth century. His architectural style merges modernist principles with Sri Lanka’s diverse architectural heritage, resulting in a unique body of work that includes residences, educational institutions, hotels, factories, and the National Parliament building.
“Geoffrey Bawa’s contributions occupy a distinctive place in modern architectural history. His work, deeply rooted in Sri Lanka’s diverse architectural traditions, presents a compelling alternative to the predominantly Western narratives that have historically influenced the architectural canon. As we rediscover Bawa’s significance, this exhibition will broaden his recognition,” stated Mateo Kries, Director of the Vitra Design Museum.
Co-curator Johan Deurell added, “Bawa’s thoughtful engagement with the cultural, political, and geographical contexts of his work, along with his profound understanding of how architecture interacts with the senses, his collaborations with local artisans, and his philosophy of harmonizing architecture with nature, continue to inspire architects and designers today.”
Though Bawa has been regarded as a pioneer of Tropical Modernism, the exhibition aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of his work. By emphasizing Bawa’s commitment to collaboration, ecology, and the cultural significance of architecture, the exhibition positions him as an innovator in socially conscious and sustainable building practices, which are increasingly relevant in contemporary discourse.
The exhibition includes a comprehensive array of objects, models, and documents sourced from the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, along with artworks by Ena de Silva, Laki Senanayake, and Barbara Sansoni. Additionally, it features archival images by Sebastian Posingis and Dominic Sansoni, as well as new photographs by Iwan Baan and films by Kavindu Sivaraj and Ruvin de Silva. Collectively, these pieces offer a modern interpretation of the profound impact of Bawa’s architecture and its relationship with its natural surroundings.
A collaborative effort between the Vitra Design Museum, M+, and the Wüstenrot Foundation, in association with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, “Geoffrey Bawa: Architecture for the Senses” will be available for viewing at the Vitra Design Museum until February 28, 2027, before traveling to M+ in Hong Kong, where it will be exhibited starting in June 2027.
The Vitra Design Museum is recognized among the leading design museums globally, focusing on the research and exhibition of design throughout history, while exploring its connections to architecture, art, and everyday culture. M+ serves as Asia’s premier museum for contemporary visual culture, dedicated to collecting, showcasing, and interpreting visual art, design, architecture, moving images, and Hong Kong’s visual culture from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The Wüstenrot Foundation is committed to the preservation and advancement of cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, aiming to foster innovative ways of thinking and acting through the development and dissemination of practical models.
