Geoffrey Bawa. Architecture for the Senses

Description

With a creative career spanning over fifty years and more than 200 completed projects, Geoffrey Bawa (1919–2003) is one of the most influential architects of Asia in the 20th century. His work uniquely combines the principles of modernism with regional and traditional elements, developing a distinctive architectural language that responds sensitively to the place, local materials, and cultural identities. Bawa's oeuvre has significantly shaped the architecture of postcolonial Sri Lanka, including hotels, private houses, schools, universities, factories, office buildings, and the country's parliament building. Today, his approach is being rediscovered worldwide and serves as an inspiring model for socially and ecologically sustainable building.
In autumn 2026, the Vitra Design Museum and M+ Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, will present the first comprehensive retrospective of Bawa in two decades. The exhibition highlights central themes of his work—from interdisciplinary collaboration and ecological, social, and cultural engagement to a design language that makes his architecture unmistakable. An exceptionally extensive selection of drawings, models, furniture, photographs, and films makes the sensory atmosphere of Bawa's legacy tangible and emphasizes its timeless relevance.

Highlights

• First comprehensive retrospective of Geoffrey Bawa in two decades
• Over 200 completed projects and an extensive selection of drawings, models, and photographs
• Focus on ecological, social, and cultural aspects of architecture

General Information

The exhibition at the Vitra Design Museum showcases the work of the influential architect Geoffrey Bawa, who shaped the architecture of postcolonial Sri Lanka. It explores central themes of his work and offers a sensory experience of its timeless relevance.

Location

Charles-Eames-Straße 2, 79576 Weil am Rhein, Germany

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