Words: Tina Edward Gunawardhana
Photographs: Courtesy of Afdhel Aziz
Two decades after his death the fascination with Sri Lanka’s most revered architect Geoffrey Bawa continues. Reams of articles have been written about Bawa who is considered the pioneer of Tropical Modernism. Sri Lankan author, speaker and now filmmaker Afdhel Aziz was motivated by Bawa’s words. “A building can only be understood by moving around and through it and by experiencing the modulation and feel of the spaces one moves through.” Aziz returned to his roots in 2022 and produced and directed “The Genius of the Place” a cinematic paean of Bawa’s iconic works which took three years to complete. Aziz who resides in Los Angeles began his career in marketing when he moved to London at the age of 17. Along the way he has helped scores of brands like Adidas, Sephora and Coca Cola to discover their corporate purpose, become a thought leader about harnessing marketing as a force for good and has written several non-fiction books, as well as a recurring column for Forbes.
What influence did Geoffrey Bawa have on your life?
Growing up in Sri Lanka, I was surrounded by the work of Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most influential architect. I was familiar with his work but realised I knew nothing else about the man. This project started when I filmed five of his Sri Lankan buildings; I interviewed his collaborators, his clients and other influential architects. Looking at the buildings and hearing people’s memories, we constructed a portrait of who he was. I went to Sri Lanka to shoot the film in 2022. Now, I want to take audiences on this journey, teleporting them to Sri Lanka, the buildings, and their amazing gardens.
What motivated you to do a film on him?
As a Sri Lankan boy, there weren’t many role models like that for me growing up. When you look at him, you want to have his life – that creativity, artistry, and freedom.
What in your opinion are the defining points of Bawa’s architecture?
As a person, Geoffrey Bawa’s deep love for nature was fundamental to understanding him. An architect with the soul of a gardener, he designed buildings to be in harmony with the outdoors. His buildings blossomed like gardens, evolving over time. Determined and focused, he pushed boundaries as an artist, embracing new approaches.
Bawa’s gift was that he never designed the same building twice. Every building was a direct response to the unique spiritual energy of its surroundings — the so-called “genius” of the place. Bawa would go there and look at the light, the shade, the sun — everything — before deciding what needed to be there. That’s why each Bawa house is so different, and why we named the documentary The Genius of the Place.
