Words: Tina Edward Gunawardhana
Iconic Geoffrey Bawa’s last labour of love
Flanked by a lagoon on one side and an invitingly empty beach on the other side, The Last House sits on a 2km stretch of land just outside Tangalle in Sri Lanka’s deep south. Overlooking the Mawella Beach which is situated a few miles west of the coastal fishing town, the property lies in close proximity to the main southern highway which makes travelling that much easier. Mawella boasts its own bay which is rustic and uncrowded with miles of beach to call your own. Rolling waves make it suitable for body boarding and generally, swimming is safe all year around. Travelling directly from Colombo along the Southern Expressway, the journey is approximately three hours.
The Last House as its name suggests was the final private architectural commission undertaken by the much revered Geoffrey Bawa, the iconic colossus of Sri Lankan architecture. Designed in the shape of a horseshoe, the property has living areas and bedrooms which surround a large pool positioned within a well manicured garden.
The property’s exterior ochre hued walls punctuated with door and window frames in aquamarine further complement its rustic look and adds to homeliness of the property. The white wooden beams and the terracotta-tiled roof adds to the sense of character which is a great attraction for architecture aficionados who throng to visit this final swan song of the founding father of architecture’s tropical modernity. The interior of the property is a mix of white walls and grey polished cement floors which play the perfect host to the eclectic mix of antique and contemporary furniture. Pops of bright colour add great vibrancy and a tropical feel throughout the property.
To continue reading this article please subscribe to Hi!! Magazine. Click below for subscription options.
