Geoffrey Bawa: Architecture for the Senses - výstava ve Vitra Design Museum

From September 26, 2026, to February 28, 2027, the Vitra Design Museum will host an extensive exhibition showcasing the work of Geoffrey Bawa (1919–2003), one of the most influential architects of the 20th century in Asia. The exhibition features more than 250 exhibits, ranging from drawings and models to furniture and photographs, as well as historic film footage and artworks. Newly created photographs by Iwan Baan capture how some of Bawa's most significant buildings are actually used, while the scenography by architect Lina Ghotmeh transforms the museum into an environment inspired by the sensory power of his architecture.
Geoffrey Bawa was born in 1919 in Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, into a family with Asian and European roots. Before he began studying architecture, he worked as a lawyer and graduated from the Architectural Association in London in 1957. Although he came to architecture relatively late, he became one of the leading voices in architecture in newly independent Sri Lanka. His early projects, such as St. Thomas’ Preparatory School (1957–1963), reflect the influence of Western modernism. During his career, however, Bawa increasingly worked with local materials, craftsmanship, and industrial possibilities, creating a distinctive architectural language sensitive to specific environments. Key projects include his own garden estate Lunuganga (1948–2003), Bentota Beach Hotel (1966–1969), and Kandalama Hotel (1991–1994). In 2001, he received the Aga Khan Chairman Award for his lifelong contribution to architecture.
For Bawa, good architecture had to make sense both emotionally and practically. He believed that "architecture cannot be fully explained, but must be experienced," and thus he did not view buildings as static objects, but as spatial stories that unfold over time. Nature in Sri Lanka played a significant role in them. Bawa's buildings, such as Polontalawa Estate Bungalow (1963–1967) or Jayewardene House (1997–1998), naturally respond to the terrain and work with its elevation differences and contours. Rocks, trees, and other elements of the landscape become an integral part of the architecture.
A significant aspect of Bawa's work was his collaboration with leading Sri Lankan artists and craftsmen, including Ena de Silva, Laki Senanayake, and Barbara Sansoni. Their workshops operated as social enterprises, providing training and employment for local communities. The batik panels, sculptures, and textiles created here were not mere decoration for Bawa's buildings, but an integral part of them. They helped to blur the boundaries between architecture, art, and design.
Bawa is often referred to as a pioneer of the architectural movement known as Tropical Modernism. However, the exhibition offers a more comprehensive view of his work than this simplifying label allows. It also focuses on his collaborations, relationship to ecology, and the cultural context of architecture. Bawa is thus presented as an innovator of socially responsible and sustainable architecture, whose approaches remain relevant today.
The core of the exhibition consists of an extensive selection of objects, models, and documents from the Geoffrey Bawa Trust archive, supplemented by historical photographs by Sebastian Posingis and Domenica Sansoni. New photographs and films provide a contemporary view of the impressiveness of Bawa's buildings and their strong connection to the surrounding nature.
Geoffrey Bawa: Architecture for the Senses is an exhibition of the Vitra Design Museum, the M+ museum of contemporary visual culture in Hong Kong, and the German Wüstenrot Foundation, prepared in collaboration with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust. It will be on display at the Vitra Design Museum until February 28, 2027, and will subsequently move to Hong Kong, where it will be presented starting in June 2027. The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalog featuring essays, project descriptions, and interviews with architects Kengo Kuma, Tatiana Bilbao, Marina Tabassum, and Lina Ghotmeh.