I was excited about this lecture before it happened from Chelvadurai’s probing questions following the Keisuke lecture I know he was going to be an interesting person.I’m fairly familiar with the work of his mentor Geoffrey Bawa and knew to expect what is described as tropical modernism. Triffid like plants, Sri Lankan artifacts up against an Aalto-esque-type of form making. According to the blurb on amazon for the David Robson book about him he apparently works without a mobile phone or bank account from dining room table.
Chelvadurai introduced the talk by explaining that his interest lies in the vernacular and in particular the sacred Sri Lankan landscapes and gardens that incorporate natural features like rocks and celebrate them. Bawa describes his architecture as making a garden using building materials. Chelvadurai elaborated on this reference by saying that, like Bawa, he uses garden planning techniques such as the creation of vistas in his architecture. Chelvadurai rattled through many projects and re-occurring themes were present such as colour theory, collaboration with local artists and textile designers, use of local materials and working with the landscape.
His most famous work is on SOS Children’s Village orphanages. The village consists of houses for the children run by a ‘mother’ as well as a school and other buildings set in a beautiful natural environment and built in materials of the place; granite, sakka (soft yellow stone), laterite, and sun-dried earth. Arresting is the bright colours used on the woodwork which I would have never considered but was surprised that I really loved.
His spacious private houses are built using the same sensitive approach to palette but feel somewhat more luxurious. It seems that there is no air conditioning used in his buildings. Chelvadurai’s own working space faces out onto an open courtyard. This shares something with how traditional Thai houses were designed and could work to bring air through but I think that the rainy season and humidity might be more of a challenge than the Sri-Lankan examples.
Sketch I made in the Lecture of the Banyan Tree House
One of the many examples that remained with me was Wahab House which is designed around the most fantastic banyan tree with its aerial roots forming beautiful organic screens. After the lecture some brave soul asked about the problems of building in such proximity to a large tree and Chelvadurai replied:-
“It’s much better to enjoy the tree and have your building broken”
I couldn’t help but agree but not sure how many of my clients would. Note that he also draws his beautiful plans once the building is complete and inhabited as per his mentor Geoffrey Bawa.
Another example that piqued my interest was a design for a public toilet that looks over a gorge. The cubicles have a cut-away wall and a private view over the landscape. I love this. It’s taking something ordinary and making it magic. Something Chelvadurai likens to origami.
Toilets overlooking a gorge. Very clever and surprising.