Lunuganga

The Geoffrey Bawa Suite

Previously closed off to guests, The Geoffrey Bawa Suite is the original room occupied by Geoffrey Bawa at Lunuganga Estate. Bawa’s former suite is furnished with a king-sized bed, modern-day amenities, and a spacious living area adorned with a rare collection of original artworks, and his personal library. The Geoffrey Bawa Suite opens out to a charming, private courtyard with a sitting area, while the on-suite bathroom connects to an outdoor, tropical plunge pool. The suite is located in the Main House.

Cinnamon Hill 1 Room

Perched on the top of Cinnamon Hill, sits this freestanding building that houses two very private guestrooms. Built in the 1990s, this was one of Geoffrey Bawa’s last additions to his estate. At its heart is a double-height loggia, ideal for dining and entertaining. Each of the Cinnamon Hill bedrooms is furnished with a king-sized bed and modern-day amenities and has a secluded, open-air bathroom for warm tropical bathing surrounded by nature. Both rooms share a common main entrance, making the house ideal for a family with children or couples traveling together. These rooms are the closest room category to the Swimming Pool and is located 250 metres from the main house.

Glass House

This ethereal room sits at the top of a portico separating the entrance court from the Eastern Terrace of Bawa’s garden in Bentota. Completely walled in glass – an unusual medium for Bawa who ordinarily used glass sparingly in his designs – light bathes the room in dappled sunlight while the mature trees, home to exotic birds, sway gently in the breeze. Inside the Glass House, a queen-sized four-poster bed sits beneath a vaulted timber ceiling, and furnishings include colonial-era planters’ chairs, Dutch-period antiques and modern amenities for a comfortable stay. The ensuite bathroom is fitted with a sink and a shower. The Glass House is located 50 metres from the main house.

Gallery Studio Suite

The Gallery Studio, the largest bedroom, was originally built as a cowshed in the 1970s but was later transformed into a gallery for Bawa to house his precious art collection. Transom windows capture Bawa’s iconic play of light and shade throughout the day, and just outside the entrance is a private courtyard with weathered ochre walls and gothic flourishes. At the very centre of the suite sits a four-poster king-sized bed dressed in crisp linen, which gazes beyond a glass wall into the generous courtyard. In the granite-floored bathroom are a traditional freestanding Victorian tub and separate rain shower. This room feels private and secluded and is a popular option for couples and honeymooners. The suite is located around 100 metres from the main house, beyond the Eastern Terrace.

Gate House

This is a truly unique room styled out of the estate’s original gatehouse and designed, originally, to house architectural assistants who would travel to Bawa’s house in Sri Lanka at the weekends to work on projects. The Gate House suite occupies the top floor and is furnished with twin beds and Dutch-era antiques, yet this indulgent space is also notable for its other artistic contributions. The wall above the bed is adorned with a grand batik print by Ena de Silva, renowned batik artist and friend of Bawa, while in the veranda, on the ground floor of the house, is an eye-catching mural by Laki Senanayake, another notable Lankan artist and contemporary of Bawa. Alcove windows in the bedroom and bathroom open widely onto the green surroundings. Nestled in a grove of trees at the foot of Cinnamon Hill, The Gate House is located 100 metres away from the main bungalow.

Main House Studio

A spacious, elegantly furnished suite located in the Main House, opposite Bawa’s suite of rooms. Popular with those looking to stay in Bentota at the very heart of Bawa’s former home, this suite is highlighted by paintings and antique furniture that evoke the colonial era. When close friends visited Geoffrey Bawa at Lunuganga, this is often where they would stay. An exceptional feature of this room is its completely private courtyard for quiet downtime. The suite is furnished with a king-sized bed dressed in crisp linen and accessorized with an array of modern amenities to ensure a comfortable stay. In the bathroom, where windows frame views of palms, there is a shower set into an alcove opposite a large porcelain tub.

No. 5 Ena’s Bedroom

Up on the first floor of the three-bedroom former residence of Ena de Silva sits this traditionally-styled bedroom furnished with a king-sized platform bed. Timber floors contrast with the whitewashed walls though delicate louvered windows and antique furniture ensure the room retains its colonial-era feel even though crisp linen and modern amenities provide essential 20th century touches. No. 5 at Lunuganga is a separate, 55-year-old traditional heritage villa nestled on the very edge of Lunuganga. Formerly the Colombo home of renowned batik artist Ena de Silva, and close friend of Bawa, it was transported from its original position in the capital all the way to Lunuganga, and completed in 2016 – a process that took just three months to dismantle the house and as many as six years to reassemble it. The design is considered transformative for Bawa as he introduced Sri Lanka to the idea of an urban courtyard – a feature well recognised today, but unconventional at the time. When booked with the neighbouring No. 5 Master Suite and/or with the No. 5 Guest Suite, this setup is ideal for families and friends looking for a private villa stay. The villa is located about 400 metres from the main house.

No. 5 Guest Suite

This is one of three bedrooms in a separate 55-year-old heritage villa nestled on the very edge of Lunuganga. The Ena House Guest Suite, located on the ground floor, opens onto a courtyard with pillars crafted from satinwood trees and a mature araliya tree that scatters fragrant white flowers. The weathered terracotta floors contrast with the whitewashed walls and built-in furnishings, and a galley-style bathroom leads into a private courtyard with a simplistic built-in seat. Formerly the Colombo home of renowned batik artist Ena de Silva, and close friend of Geoffrey Bawa, the historic former residence was transported from its original position in the capital all the way to Lunuganga – a process that took six years to reach its conclusion in 2016. The design was transformative for Bawa as he introduced the idea of an urban courtyard – a feature well recognised today, but unconventional at the time. When booked with the No. 5 Master Suite and No. 5 Ena’s Bedroom, this trio of rooms work well for families. Guests can dine within the house, which benefits from its own pantry, dining area and a butler who can organise a short tuk tuk transfer back to the main house and estate, around 400 metres away.

No. 5 Master Suite

This spacious, elegant, suite on the first floor of an inspirational 55-year-old villa sitting at the furthest corner of the Lunuganga garden, is the room that batik artist Ena de Silva’s husband occupied years ago. The room is furnished with a king-sized bed and is attached to a convivial living area with sofa (formerly their daughter’s bedroom). Deeply recessed windows with delicate louvered panels bathe the room in sunlight. The open plan bathroom has separate doors to a bathing area with a freestanding shower. Bawa became good friends with Ena de Silva after designing her house in the heart of Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. Unconventional for its time thanks to its central ‘urban’ courtyard, it was one of Bawa’s most transformative residential projects, and of such high importance that it was rescued from the threat of destruction, dismantled and moved, brick by brick, from Colombo to its final resting place in Lunuganga – a painstaking process that took six years. When all three rooms are booked together, this separate villa works well for families or groups, and comes with its own living and dining areas. The villa is located around 400 metres from the main house.

Lunuganga Master Suite

No 05 Lunuganga

Cinnamon Hill 2 Room

Cinnamon Hill Room: Perched on the top of Cinnamon Hill, sits this freestanding building that houses two very private guestrooms. Built in the 1990s, this was one of Geoffrey Bawa’s last additions to his estate. At its heart is a double-height loggia, ideal for dining and entertaining. Each of the Cinnamon Hill bedrooms is furnished with a king-sized bed and modern-day amenities and has a secluded, open-air bathroom for warm tropical bathing surrounded by nature. Both rooms share a common main entrance, making the house ideal for a family with children or couples traveling together. These rooms are the closest room category to the Swimming Pool and is located 250 metres from the main house.

Gate House 2

This is a truly unique room styled out of the estate’s original gatehouse and designed, originally, to house architectural assistants who would travel to Bawa’s house in Sri Lanka at the weekends to work on projects. The Gate House suite occupies the top floor and is furnished with twin beds and Dutch-era antiques, yet this indulgent space is also notable for its other artistic contributions. The wall above the bed is adorned with a grand batik print by Ena de Silva, renowned batik artist and friend of Bawa, while in the veranda, on the ground floor of the house, is an eye-catching mural by Laki Senanayake, another notable Lankan artist and contemporary of Bawa. Alcove windows in the bedroom and bathroom open widely onto the green surroundings. Nestled in a grove of trees at the foot of Cinnamon Hill, The Gate House is located 100 metres away from the main bungalow.