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Design Anthology Retreat - Sri Lanka


Design Anthology Retreat

Sri Lanka

14–22 November 2026

Overview Itinerary Application

This Design Anthology Retreat will take place from 14–22 November 2026 in Sri Lanka. Over nine days, you will trace the artistic and intellectual evolution of Geoffrey Bawa, the visionary architect who redefined the relationship between built form and tropical landscape. The journey also explores works by contemporary Sri Lankan architect Palinda Kannangara and internationally celebrated architects - Kerry Hill, Shigeru Ban, Tadao Ando, and Norm Architects - whose designs engage with Sri Lanka's climate, culture, and natural beauty. The experience fuses architectural study with cultural immersion and luxurious hospitality, offering a sensorial and scholarly odyssey through one of Asia's most creative landscapes.

Over nine days and eight nights, the retreat will offer Design Anthology guests an immersive experience of tropical modernism, heritage architecture, design culture and award-winning cuisine. All accommodation, meals and curated activities are included, ensuring a seamless and inspiring journey through Sri Lanka's most significant architectural destinations.

 
 

About the Retreat

This curated journey offers an intimate exploration of Sri Lanka's architectural identity — where modernism meets monsoon, and concrete meets canopy. Beginning in Colombo, participants will discover the genesis of tropical modernism through visits to Geoffrey Bawa's legendary residence at 33rd Lane and Palinda Kannangara's minimalist house and studio. The retreat includes a private visit to the reconstructed Ena de Silva House at the Bawa Trust and guided sessions with curators who preserve and interpret this remarkable design legacy.

The journey continues to Heritance Kandalama, Bawa's magnum opus — a hotel that disappears into the cliffside, merging vegetation and stone in a masterwork of ecological design. From there, guests travel through Yala's wilderness to experience contemporary eco-luxury at Wild Coast Tented Lodge, where biomimicry-based architecture meets sustainable design.

Along Sri Lanka's southern coast, the retreat explores international influences through rare access to Villa Vista by Shigeru Ban and the Pringiers House by Tadao Ando — private residences typically not open to visitors. Also featured is K House by Norm Architects — a study in coastal minimalism. In Galle, participants will walk through the UNESCO World Heritage Fort and visit Armitage Hill, Kerry Hill's meticulous reinterpretation of an 18th-century plantation estate.

The final days trace the Bawa Trail through Bentota, visiting Lunuganga Estate, his lifelong sculptural landscape project, and Brief Garden, the eccentric estate of his brother Bevis Bawa. Throughout the journey, guests stay in architecturally significant properties and dine at celebrated restaurants including Ministry of Crab, featured on Asia's 50 Best list, experiencing the intersection of design, nature, and Sri Lankan culture at every turn.

Highlights

  • Guided tours of Geoffrey Bawa's most significant works including his residence, Heritance Kandalama, Lunuganga Estate, and Bentota Beach Hotel

  • Private visit to Palinda Kannangara's house and studio, a minimalist masterpiece of sustainable urban design

  • Visit to the reconstructed Ena de Silva House and guided session by Geoffrey Bawa Trust curators

  • Rare access to Villa Vista by Shigeru Ban and Pringiers House by Tadao Ando — private residences typically not open to visitors

  • Armitage Hill, Kerry Hill Architects' reinterpretation of an 18th-century plantation estate

  • K House by Norm Architects, exemplifying Scandinavian restraint through a tropical lens

  • Wild Coast Tented Lodge's biomimicry-based architecture in Yala National Park

  • Curated gallery visits and design retail experiences

  • Dining at Ministry of Crab, featured on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list

  • UNESCO World Heritage Galle Fort exploration

Inclusions

  • 8 nights accommodation at architecturally significant hotels and resorts

  • Private transfers between destinations

  • Land transportation throughout the journey

  • Guided tours and curator-led sessions

  • All meals (full board from Day 1 lunch through Day 9 lunch)

  • All curated activities and site visits

  • Entrance fees to sites and attractions

  • English-speaking national guide services

Exclusions

  • Flights

  • Visas

  • Vaccinations

  • Travel insurance

  • All beverages, tips and porterage

  • Video and camera permits

  • Expenses of personal nature (telephone calls, laundry, etc.)

  • Early and late checkout charges

Itinerary

Expand all days

Day One

14 November 2026: Colombo | The Genesis of Tropical Modernism

Guests arrive in Colombo, where Sri Lanka's architectural narrative begins
Visit Palinda Kannangara's House and Studio, a minimalist masterpiece of concrete, timber, and filtered light
Continue to Geoffrey Bawa's Residence at 33rd Lane, a labyrinth of courtyards, artworks, and shaded volumes
Explore The Gallery Café, a former Bawa office transformed into a refined dining space
Overnight at a 5-star hotel

Day Two

15 November 2026: Colombo | Art, Design & the Bawa Legacy

Private visit to the Ena de Silva House, reconstructed within the premises of the Bawa Trust
Continue to Barefoot Gallery, a hub of modern Sri Lankan art and textile design
Afternoon architectural talk and guided session by a curator from the Geoffrey Bawa Trust
Evening at leisure
Overnight in Colombo

Day Three

16 November 2026: Dambulla | Architecture in Harmony with Nature

Drive to Dambulla (approx. 4 hours), stopping en route to view local temples and vernacular rural houses
Arrive at Heritance Kandalama, Geoffrey Bawa's magnum opus that disappears into the cliffside
Guided tour explaining Bawa's integration of ecology and design
Evening visit to Laki Senanayake's forest studio, fusing sculpture, painting, and architecture with nature
Overnight at a 5-star hotel

Day Four

17 November 2026: Yala | Design in the Wilderness

Travel southwards (approx. 6 hours) to Wild Coast Tented Lodge in Yala National Park
Private walkthrough of the biomimicry-based architecture and energy-efficient design
Evening fireside dialogue with the lodge's management team on sustainable design
Overnight at a 5-star hotel

Day Five

18 November 2026: Tangalle | Coastal Minimalism

Journey to Tangalle (2 hours) to explore K House by Norm Architects
Visit features open-air living spaces, rammed earth walls, and elegant restraint
Continue to Anantara Peace Haven, exemplifying contemporary tropical architecture
Sunset discussion on design adaptation and climate sensitivity
Overnight in Tangalle

Day Six

19 November 2026: Weligama | International Influences

Head to Weligama (1 hour) to visit Villa Vista by Shigeru Ban — a private residence typically not open to visitors
Explore the Pringiers House by Tadao Ando, an austere yet poetic structure using raw concrete and ocean light
Relax at Cape Weligama, designed by Lek Bunnag
Overnight at a 5-star hotel

Day Seven

20 November 2026: Galle | Heritage Restored

Drive to Galle, visiting Armitage Hill en route — Kerry Hill Architects' reinterpretation of an 18th-century plantation estate
Explore Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and living museum of adaptive reuse
Walk through cobblestone alleys discovering colonial mansions repurposed into boutique hotels and design studio
Overnight at a 5-star hotel

Day Eight

21 November 2026: Bentota | The Bawa Trail

Travel to Bentota (1 hour 15 mins), the birthplace of Sri Lankan modernism
Visit Lunuganga Estate, Geoffrey Bawa's lifelong sculptural landscape project
Continue to Brief Garden, Bevis Bawa's eccentric estate
Explore Bentota Beach Hotel, another of Bawa's seminal works
Overnight in Bentota

Day Nine

22 November 2026: Colombo | A Return to Inspiration

Return to Colombo (approx. 2 hours)
Visit Seema Malaka Temple, designed by Geoffrey Bawa
If time permits, visit Number 11 (Bawa's Office)
Farewell lunch at Gallery Café or Ministry of Crab
Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for departure
 

Application

Offer includes hotels, F&B, local activities and experiences and local transfers; costs exclude flights and visas. To reserve your place, a 50% deposit is required, with the remaining balance to be charged 60 days before the start of the trip. If you book within 60 days of the start of the trip, the full amount is due.

USD $14,000

For two people

USD $8,900

For one person

Apply for this experience
 
 

  • Our trips are curated by editors and creatives with a deep understanding of design, architecture, and culture. Each itinerary is built around exclusive studio visits, private collection tours, and encounters with designers and tastemakers you won’t find in a typical guidebook.

  • Our experiences are ideal for design professionals, collectors, and culturally curious travellers who value thoughtful curation, access, and intimacy over mass tourism.

  • We keep our groups intentionally small—usually no more than 12 participants—to allow for deeper conversations, access to private spaces, and a more personal experience throughout.

  • Pricing typically includes accommodation, all scheduled activities, most meals, and on-the-ground transportation. Airfare and personal expenses are not included. A detailed list of inclusions and exclusions will be provided before you book.

  • Yes. While the days are thoughtfully planned, we always include downtime so you can explore at your own pace or simply unwind.

  • Absolutely. Many of our travellers come alone and leave with new friends. We welcome solo travellers and offer single room options (subject to availability).

  • We understand plans can change. Our cancellation terms vary depending on the destination and trip. Full details are outlined during the booking process, and we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance.

  • Not at all. While many of our guests are from the design or creative industries, we welcome anyone with an interest in culture, aesthetics, and thoughtful travel.

  • You can subscribe to our mailing list or follow us on Instagram for early access and announcements.

  • The Sensory Retreat Series, including all experiences, visits and meals, will be hosted and conducted in English.

 
 

Four Reasons to
Join This Experience

Our experience programme isn’t just about seeing a destination — it’s about experiencing it through the lens of creativity, crafsmanship and storytelling.

One
Exclusive Access
Private tours of architecturally significant spaces, cultural institutions, and design studios and ateliers often closed to the public.
Three
Considered Itineraries
A thoughtfully planned itinerary, from beautifully designed accommodations to dining in spaces that reflect the local culture and craft.
Two
Curated Encounters
Intimate gatherings with leading designers, architects and artisans, providing rare insights into their creative processes.
Four
Like-Minded People
Small groups of like-minded individuals who share a passion for good design in all its forms, ensuring meaningful conversations and connections.
 
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Design Anthology Retreat - Chandigarh, India