Elite-led Cultural Projects Manifesting Periodic Changes: Geoffrey Bawa Case Studies in Postcolonial Sri Lanka

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It is often believed that the so-called ‘cultural projects’ are the most ideal form of political, economic and socio-cultural manifestation of a given society, at a given time. These are commonly referred to as ‘periodic changes’. In postcolonial Sri Lanka, it is often believed that cultural projects have been used to convey underlying messages to its masses by their patrons. Geoffrey Bawa – considered the most important architect of the nation who was responsible for its ‘national architectural style’ – completed a number of them in his career. It is often acknowledged that Bawa’s cultural projects themselves were instrumental indeed in making of the country’s aforementioned national style. On the other hand, the unmistakable role played by the governing/political elite (as patrons) behind the implementation of such projects is also noteworthy. Moreover, it is often said that the architecture of such cultural projects implemented by Bawa were associated closely with elite culture, but that of the masses they were meant for.In this light, the study narrates theories on elitism, and establishes positions of elite/masses in society respectively. Next, it assesses different levels of cultures, and then, their pertaining building design traditions respectively. In this process, the relationship between elite ‘high culture’ and ‘grand design tradition’ is also ascertained. Employing a qualitative research methodology, the study takes up three case studies by Geoffrey Bawa. The selected almost-parallel cultural projects with elite patronage are commonly viewed as the most instrumental from his portfolio for making the nation’s flagship architectural style by the 1980s. In terms of empirical work, to collect information, the study relies upon drawings, photographic surveys, and especially, literature. The gaps in literature are countered via secondary in-depth interviews based on semi-structured questionnaires, borrowed from literature. The selected architectural attributes (i.e. location selection/layouts as well as form constituents and architectural features/details) from each case study are then analyzed to determine their underlying design tradition/s respectively. Finally, the underlying reasons (i.e. periodic changes) behind their implementation are interpreted in a phenomenological viewpoint to draw conclusions.