Number 11
At the end of a cul-de-sac on 33rd Lane, under the breezy shade of a frangipani (Plumeria rubra) tree, Geoffrey Bawa’s Colombo residence stands as a living testament to the late architect’s life and legacy.
Number 11 began as the third row house in a set of four, which Bawa rented from lawyer, writer, and patron of the arts Harold Peiris in 1959. Within ten years, he had purchased the complete quartet and undertaken an extensive renovation to create the property that exists today, one containing all the “essentials of life in Sri Lanka.” The home’s gradual evolution is an homage to Bawa’s process, which he sums up by explaining, “When one delights as much as I do in planning a building and having it built I find it impossible to describe the exact steps in an analytical or dogmatic way.”
The house expands and contracts as one moves through it; a narrow entryway unfolds into a broad living space, which compresses again through enclaves including the bedroom and dining area. Bawa lived in this introspective house in parallel with Lunuganga, where vistas and open spaces abound.
Number 11 is a physical manifestation of the creativity that surrounded Bawa in the post-independence era, a thoughtful meditation on space & light, and an emblem of what he simply called “good Sri Lankan architecture.”
Number 11 House Tours
Address: No.11, 33rd Lane, Bagatelle Road, Colombo 03
Number 11 may only be visited by joining one of the Trust's guided tours, available at the times listed below.
Please note that to preserve the premises for future generations and help conserve our collections, tour numbers are limited in size and tickets are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Kindly note that if the Guest Suite is occupied by overnight visitors, it will not be shown during the tour. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience.
Visit Times
Monday to Friday: 10.00 a.m. | 2.00 p.m. | 3.30 p.m.
Saturday: 11.00 a.m. | 4.00 p.m.
Sunday: 11.00 a.m. only
Tour duration: 45 minutes
Reservations are encouraged.
Entrance Fee
Local rate: LKR 2500
Foreign rate: LKR 5000
Local student rate: LKR 500 (must be carrying a valid student ID)
Free admission for CiMAM members carrying a valid membership
Appointments by email: info@geoffreybawa.org
Telephone: +94 (11) 4337335 (Weekdays 9 a.m.– 4 p.m.)
Mobile/Whatsapp: +94 777 323978
Private Tours
Private tours by Trust curators can be arranged by prior appointment, subject to availability of staff, for a fee of USD 275 per tour, for a maximum of 4 people, USD 35 for any additional people, up to 20 max. Early bookings (at least two weeks in advance) are highly encouraged, especially if your request is for a tour over a weekend.
Photography
Personal photography is allowed without the use of flash or tripods of the entrance, hallway, office, guest suite and terrace; publication or commercial use of photographs is only permissible if expressed approval has been obtained from the Geoffrey Bawa Trust.
Accessibility
We welcome visitors with disabilities but there are steps throughout the house so not every part of the interior will be accessible to all. Regretfully, due to layout, the house is inaccessible for wheelchairs. Please let us know about any special requirements in advance and we’ll try to make your visit as enjoyable as possible.
All proceeds from private tours support the education and preservation mission of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust which is a non-profit organization with charitable status in Sri Lanka.
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“Divisions blur between exterior and interior spaces and personal and public settings.”
House museums #60: architect Geoffrey Bawa
Financial Times — House & Home -
"This oasis of tranquility seems more like a small fortress, built not so much to bring the outside in, but to keep the less welcome bits firmly out."
Open and Shut Case
The World of Interiors -
"Geoffrey worked like a theatre artist, choreographing spaces, movement through them, and the fierce tropical sunlight. Light was always brought in from above and through courtyard spaces open to sky. "
House No 11… nothing short of a work of art
Architectural Digest India
Stay at Number 11
The Geoffrey Bawa residence is a significant architectural work that houses art and artefacts from the collection of the late architect Geoffrey Bawa. While the Geoffrey Bawa Trust welcomes stays from those with an interest in architecture and the arts, it is important to note that the residence is not operated as a conventional hotel.
The first guest suite is located within a single suite on the first floor. They are interconnected and share a common bathroom and sitting room. The upper levels include a loggia on the third floor and an open viewing deck on the fourth floor. The suite is offered to one party at a time.
A second suite is located on the ground floor. Originally designed as a guest annexe and later used as the architect’s office, it has been restored to its earlier use as accommodation. The suite is self-contained, with an ensuite bedroom, and retains original furniture, artworks, and architectural features that reflect the character of the house.
For inquiries and reservations: admin@geoffreybawa.org
