Geoffrey Bawa Space Brings Global Design Perspectives to Sri Lanka with the Support of LANKATILES

LANKATILES collaborated with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust to support the 23rd Annual Geoffrey Bawa Memorial Lecture, held on 23 July 2026 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, reaffirming its commitment to Sri Lanka’s design community.

The lecture was delivered by Japanese architect Junya Ishigami, founder of junya.ishigami+associates. Known for challenging conventional ideas of architecture and exploring relationships between built form, nature and human experience, Ishigami has gained recognition for his imaginative work.

The Memorial Lecture formed part of LANKATILES’ collaboration with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, through which the company supports platforms where design can be experienced, discussed and celebrated. The partnership also extends to DesignTalk, another knowledge-sharing initiative held throughout the year.

For LANKATILES, supporting design goes beyond developing products and surface solutions. It means contributing to the wider creative ecosystem by enabling conversations, encouraging new ideas and connecting Sri Lankan audiences with global voices.

Priyantha Talwatte, Managing Director of LANKATILES PLC, said, “Design has always been central to the LANKATILES journey. Our collaboration with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust enables us to support spaces where architecture, creativity and new ideas come together. We are proud to contribute to platforms that celebrate design, inspire future generations and strengthen Sri Lanka’s architectural community.”

The Geoffrey Bawa Trust plays an important role in uplifting Sri Lanka’s architecture and design ecosystem through platforms for learning, dialogue and creative exchange.

Through the Annual Memorial Lecture, DesignTalk and other programmes, the Trust connects architects, designers, students and the public with leading ideas and practitioners, while encouraging collaboration and the continued development of Sri Lankan design.

Channa Daswatte, Chairperson of the Geoffrey Bawa and Lunuganga Trusts, said, “Our partnership with LANKATILES is important because the Geoffrey Bawa Memorial Lecture brings new ideas to Sri Lanka, inspiring people through global perspectives and continuing Geoffrey Bawa’s legacy of encouraging generations to think differently, explore creativity and shape the future.”

Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director of M+ in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District and a Trustee of the Geoffrey Bawa and Lunuganga Trusts, said, “Without preserving our heritage, we do not know who we are. By looking to Geoffrey Bawa’s legacy, we draw lessons from the past to shape the future while protecting the earth for generations.”

Through this collaboration, LANKATILES is helping to sustain spaces that celebrate design and shape Sri Lankan architecture.