Geoffrey Bawa Trust reveals re-designed design store

The Geoffrey Bawa Trust has announced the much anticipated opening of the Bawa Design Store on Saturday, 11 October. After significant merchandise expansion inspired by the Trust’s collection, the flagship store will open its doors to the public at 41/1 Horton Place in Colombo 07. The new design store is located in the Geoffrey Bawa Space, home to the Geoffrey Bawa Trust offices, archives, and public gallery, allowing visitors the chance to check out the current exhibition alongside some unique retail therapy. 

Established by the late architect in 1982, The Geoffrey Bawa Trust works to advance the fields of art, architecture, and ecology in Sri Lanka, and the Design Store is proud to continue this mandate. Community-based craftsmanship and locally sourced materials were central to Geoffrey Bawa’s practice. As the architect once said, “the contribution of the makers, particularly the older carpenters and masons who are passionate about what they do, is equal to or more … than ours.” 

Continuing Bawa’s preference for working with local artisans, the Trust collaborates closely with small and medium-sized enterprises to create customised items inspired by Bawa’s practice and design ethos. All retail products are designed and made in Sri Lanka, through ethical partnerships that promote craftsmanship and support local livelihoods. 

The Trust launched the first collection of merchandise in 2019 as part of the Bawa 100 centennial celebrations. Expanding on the original t-shirts and tote bags, offerings now include a variety of artisanal products that reflect Geoffrey Bawa’s prolific career and diverse artistic interests and collaborations.  

The product range includes, but are certainly not limited to, cast brass gongs reminiscent of those hanging in Bawa’s Lunuganga garden, re-prints of hand-drawn maps, the gorgeously petit nil veralu shaped candles, funky black and white checkered soaps, and notebooks bound in fabric custom designed for Geoffrey Bawa by his friend, collaborator, artist, and Barefoot founder Barbara Sansoni. Also on offer is the Trust’s retrospective of Geoffrey Bawa career, Drawing from the Archives, an in-depth exploration of the architect’s work and official record of his lasting legacy.    

For those outside of Colombo, the Trust maintains an online store. First opening in 2020, the online store has proved a popular outlet for items such as limited edition Bawa postcards, customised stationary, and miniature reproductions of Geoffrey Bawa designed chairs, including a tiny Next-door Cafe Chair in the original red and tan design.  

The Trust will also be launching two new Design Stores later in the month at Geoffrey Bawa’s Residence (Number 11) in Colombo 03, and the Lunuganaga garden in Bentota. Each store will have its own selection of products for sale unique to that location. Visitors to the Number 11 Store, for example, will be able to purchase reproductions of the Sunburst batik made for Geoffrey Bawa by his friend and renowned artist Ena de Silva, and which hangs in the entryway to his Colombo residence. 

The Lunuganga Design Store will include bespoke products crafted from materials found in the garden, such as reeds and wood grown and harvested on the property. There are also plans to develop a line of custom plush animals made by local artisans. 

The Bawa Design Store is open Thursday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.