Emulating vernacular : role of tradition in the elite domestic architecture of Geoffrey Bawa and Valentine Gunasekara

Abstract

This paper critically examines the post-independence architecture of Sri Lanka (Ceylon), in which reverting back to tradition took centre stage. It discusses the pioneering works of two architects from this particular time frame that led the way to subsequent, emulation of tradition in the architectural developments in the island, especially after 1977s neo-liberal economic reforms. The paper divulges the underlying factors behind the making of the very disparate approaches of these two architects, while assessing their successes and failures. It especially evaluates the role of tradition in their architectural approaches.