PREMISE
Offering an alternative to international modernism, Tropical or regional modernism demonstrated that architecture could reflect context, tradition and time.
Humble, aesthetic and radical, Tropical Modernism in Sri Lanka manages to reflect the country’s traditional, cultural, and historical resources without rejecting new technological influences from the West, while engaging with broader cultural and political questions.
Considered to be one of Sri Lanka’s foremost architects, Geoffrey Bawa is credited to be one the founding fathers of Tropical Modernism.

CHALLENGE
Leaving an everlasting mark on Sri Lanka’s built landscape, Geoffrey Bawa’s designs establish an unique, recognizable style of design inspiring architects across the world; referencing local conditions while allowing for a modern lifestyle.
Gaining recent traction with the increase in environmental consciousness, Tropical Modernism today mediates between contextual, traditional , passive sustainability and modern construction technology, as well as the international and the vernacular.
Design challenge: Celebrating Geoffrey Bawa birth- centenary, explore how his principles and framework can be scaled to accommodate modern typologies or urban layouts, in this context an institute of learning and design.

Judges:
To be announced.