Geoffrey Bawa: Architecture for the Senses

At the Polontalawa Estate Bungalow, the rocks on the site became part of the house. Geoffrey Bawa built with the ground he was given, and this retrospective, the first major one in more than 20 years, follows that idea through over 250 drawings, models, films, furniture and photographs.

You start with Bawa's own homes and gardens, Lunuganga and Number 11 in Colombo, then move to post-independence politics, his material experiments and public buildings up to the parliament. Lina Ghotmeh designed the scenography across four rooms, and the batiks, sculpture and textiles of Ena de Silva, Laki Senanayake and Barbara Sansoni are shown as part of the architecture. Bawa qualified at 38, after a career in law, which is encouraging news for anyone in a Basel office drawing floor plans in meetings.

The museum is in Weil am Rhein, over the German border, open daily 10:00 to 18:00. Tickets are €16 (€13 reduced, under-13s free). English tours run Saturdays at 15:00, German ones Sundays, €10 on top.