Geoffrey Bawa: Architecture for the Senses

Geoffrey Bawa’s buildings make room for the landscape around them. At the Vitra Design Museum, Architecture for the Senses traces the Sri Lankan architect’s work through projects in which existing trees and rocks become part of the plan, and gardens carry the experience beyond the walls. The exhibition spans a career of more than fifty years, with buildings ranging from private houses to Sri Lanka’s parliament.

Archival drawings and models sit alongside newly commissioned photographs and films that convey how these spaces feel today. The presentation also examines Bawa’s collaborations with artists and craftspeople, whose textiles and artworks became integral parts of his architecture. Exhibition design is by Lina Ghotmeh Architects.