Kumu Documentary: The Genius of the Place: The Life and Work of Geoffrey Bawa
Dir Afdhel Aziz
Sri Lanka 2023, 74 min
In English
Geoffrey Bawa (1919‒2003) is widely regarded as one of South Asia’s most important architects of the 20th century: the equivalent of Frank Lloyd Wright in America, Luis Barragan in Mexico or Oscar Niemayer in Brazil.
This documentary celebrates five of his most important projects, ranging from ocean fortresses, such as the Lighthouse Hotel, and jungle palaces, such as the Kandalama Hotel, to groundbreaking private residences, such as the Ena De Silva House and the Jayawardene Red Cliffs House, to his magnum opus: his country estate Lunuganga, a fifty-year garden where his ashes are buried. In each location, we try to connect with The Genius of the Place – the unique spiritual energy – which Bawa used as his inspiration.
