The works of a renowned Sri Lankan architect of Burgher origin, Bevis Bawa, the Brief Gardens are a testimony of true architectural flair. If the name Bevis Bawa does not ring a bell, you are likely to recognise at least the name of his more famous brother and architect, Geoffrey Bawa, who is also known for a brilliantly landscaped garden, which is coincidentally also located in the vicinity. The Brief Gardens’ by Bevis Bawa were created almost twenty years prior to his brother’s famous work called Lunuganga, on which work was begun in 1949. Bevis Bawa’s vision for the Brief Gardens lead to an aesthetically pleasing marriage between architectural form and the rich natural heritage that Sri Lanka, as a flourishing tropical island south of the equator, has inherited.
You might wonder as to the odd name given to the gardens; this came about since young Bevis Bawa, who started work on masterpiece in 1929, was inspired to name his work as such after the triumphant legal brief that won his father, the lands on which the gardens are sprawled out on. Well known as a popular beachside tourist hotspot, the coastal town of Bentota where the gardens are based, teems with tourists from all over the world, especially during peak holiday seasons. Due to the influences left behind by globe trotters during the these times, and in part, due to the necessities of catering to their needs, Bentota is, in its own way, much a multicultural hub, as the commercial capital of Colombo. Hotels in Bentota, Sri Lanka, of which there are a multitude, such as the Bentota Beach Hotel and several others, often offer their guests excursions to nearby local attractions such as the Brief Gardens. Open daily from eight in the morning until five in the evening, visitors to the gardens are charged a small fee of around three hundred and fifty Sri Lankan rupees to enter its premises and explore all it has to offer, which include several thought-provoking sculptures of the male form.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
