Spend an overnight stay at architect Geoffrey Bawa's past residence in Colombo
The Geoffrey Bawa Trust has expanded the accommodation options at Number 11, the city residence of the late architect Geoffrey Bawa in Colombo, Sri Lanka. A second guest suite has been added, providing visitors with an opportunity to immerse themselves in Bawa's architectural heritage and personal style.
Historically, Number 11 has undergone three transformations since Bawa purchased and re-invented the original property in 1958. Initially, it served as an annexe with a kitchenette, bedroom, and living area. In 1985, the space was converted into Bawa's office when he started working from home. Until now, the residence had only one guest suite, which opened to overnight guests in 2010, seven years after Bawa's passing.
The newly added guest suite, overseen by Channa Daswatte, the trust chairperson and former student of Bawa, embodies his architectural philosophy. It features clean minimalist lines, natural ventilation, and seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces. The suite's design emphasizes light and tight vistas, with well-placed windows and doors featuring gnarled frangipani trees.
The suite is furnished with Bawa's own curios, offering an authentic experience of his design legacy. It sits just steps away from Bawa's customized 1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Connaught drophead Coupé, highlighting the blend of personal and architectural history embedded in the residence.
The new suite offers modern comforts such as balconies, seating areas with sofas and writing desks, mini-bars, and views of the city. The ensuite double bedroom is furnished with monochrome textiles purchased from the Barefoot Gallery. Vintage propeller fans, religious statuettes, black and white photographs of Bawa's parents, and a round table and Golo lamp from the office period are also present in the suite.
Underfoot, there is parquet leading to a broad living area with furniture from the office period, including rattan chairs and mismatched pieces. Many paintings in the suite were hung as Bawa originally placed them during the office period. Filing cabinets with a slab of marble across the top are also from the office era. The suite is adorned with artworks and artefacts, including sketches by Geoffrey Bawa's brother Bevis and a stone rubbing from Anuradapura.
The price for a night's stay at the guest suite, including breakfast, is £309. The guest suite at Number 11 is located at 11, 33rd Lane, Bagatalle Rd, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka, and is available for booking. This upgrade offers not only increased accommodation capacity but also a carefully curated encounter with Geoffrey Bawa’s architectural heritage and personal style in Colombo.
Visitors to Number 11 now have the chance to explore not only Bawa's architectural heritage but also his home-and-garden lifestyle, as a new guest suite has been added, mirroring his design philosophy and adorned with his personal belongings. For travelers seeking an immersion in Bawa's unique lifestyle, this expanded accommodation offers a prime opportunity to extend their city explorations into the realm of a celebrated architect's home-life, blending home-and-garden, travel, and architectural appreciation.
