Screening: “The Genius of the Place: The Life and Work of Geoffrey Bawa”
A private screening of the 2023 film about the world-renowned Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa, followed by a discussion with director Afdhel Aziz and co-director/editor Paul Vu, moderated by architect Ravi GuneWardena.
Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2024 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Neutra Office Building 2379 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
The venue is not ADA accessible. There is no parking at the rear of the building.
Please join the LA Forum for a pre-release private screening of the recent film about the renowned Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa, directed by Afdhel Aziz with cinematography by Paul Vu. Following the screening, Los Angeles-based architect Ravi GuneWardena will present a short overview of the work of Bawa and end with a Q&A with the film makers Aziz and Vu.
Geoffrey Bawa (1919-2003) was Sri Lanka’s most celebrated architect of the 20th century, known for his sensitively sited residential, institutional and hospitality sector work built between the 1950s and 2000.
The widely published works include the architect’s own town and country homes, Number 11 & Lunuganga, institutional projects, including the Sri Lankan Parliament Building, and numerous resort projects, such as the celebrated Kandalama hotel, the world’s first LEED certified hotel, set at the edge of and ancient tropical forest.
Filmmaker Afdehl Aziz, noted as “one of the most inspiring voices in the global movement” is co-founder of the Conspiracy of Love a global purpose consultancy. With a background in brand purpose and marketing innovation, his first film is a poetic survey of contemporary architecture of his birthplace, Sri Lanka. Award-winning designer and photographer Paul Vu is director and founder of Here And Now Agency, a visual content agency for creatives. With a background in architecture (M.Arch, Cal Poly Pomona) he contributed to the visual language of the film in many ways. Ravi GuneWardena, FAIA, founding partner of Escher GuneWardena Architecture, was born in Sri Lanka and has led a survey tour of the work of Geoffrey Bawa and the ancient architecture which inspired the master.
6:00 – Arrival and Reception
6:30 – Screening 1 hour 14 minutes
7:45 – Discussion
Parking (on street) is limited. Rideshare and carpooling is encouraged.
The screening and discussion are co-sponsored by Escher GuneWardena Architecture and The Neutra Institute of Survival Through Design.
