The Architect Magazine - October - December 2008

In this issue

Should conservation be seen as transforming a historically significant building – or an urban fabric - into an aesthetically interesting object, to infuse nostalgic, ideological or personal agendas of a high-end architecture? Or should it be treated more as an opportunity to enrich the life of the city and its inhabitants? Milinda Pathiraja and Darshan Ponnamperuma explore alternative ways to look at urban design, conservation and architecture.
Jetwing Hotels has always been in the nature conservation front and their work in coastline preservation at Ethukala, Negombo has resulted in an incredible stretch of beautiful, powdery brown sand beach, the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka. This beach serves as the inspiration for the concept behind The Beach.
Tintagel holds a place in the hearts and minds of Sri Lankans as being not only a historic building through its age, but also as one with a long and dramatic political past.
Channa Daswatte, an associate of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects, obtained his first degree from the university of Moratuwa, and went on to gain a masters in advanced architectural Studies from the University of London in 1991. Following graduation he joined the architectural consultancy of Geoffrey Bawa and has been involved in several large projects. Made a director/partner of Geoffrey Bawa Associates Private Limited in 1997, he is currently Trustee of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust and the Lunuganga Trust.