The Blue Water Hotel, a masterpiece designed by the legendary architect Geoffrey Bawa, encapsulates his vision of Tropical Modernism. This iconic property is not only a haven of luxury but also a showcase of Bawa’s architectural philosophy, where the boundaries between nature and structure are beautifully blurred. As the last project he completed, The Blue Water is a testament to his ability to seamlessly merge contemporary design with the natural landscape of Sri Lanka.
One of the defining features of The Blue Water is Bawa’s skillful use of open spaces. As guests walk through the hotel, they experience a harmonious flow between indoor and outdoor areas, enhanced by courtyards, vast verandas, and open corridors that channel the cool ocean breeze. This architectural openness reflects Bawa’s belief that architecture should connect people with the environment rather than isolate them from it.
Throughout the hotel, Bawa masterfully uses natural materials that complement the tropical setting. The cool terracotta floors, locally sourced wood carvings, and handpicked tiles in select rooms create a tactile connection to Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage. The seamless design extends to the hotel’s iconic columns, which visually blend into the coconut groves, creating an optical illusion where architecture and nature seem to fuse. This feature exemplifies Bawa’s approach of ensuring that the built environment does not dominate but rather enhances the natural beauty surrounding it.
Bawa also infused a nautical theme throughout the property, drawing inspiration from the coastal location of the hotel. You’ll notice that many spaces, such as the Clipper Bar, Porthole Bar, and Admiral Dining Room, are designed with elements that evoke the imagery of a ship. Even the hotel’s structure echoes the layout of a ship, with various vistas and water features designed to reflect the motion of the sea and the calm of the tropical coast. Bawa carefully curated the colors and textures of the hotel’s floors to match the shifting hues of the nearby coconut trees, sandy beaches, and ocean waves, bringing guests into a full sensory experience that blends architecture with the environment.
The Blue Water Hotel, a masterpiece designed by the legendary architect Geoffrey Bawa, encapsulates his vision of Tropical Modernism. This iconic property is not only a haven of luxury but also a showcase of Bawa’s architectural philosophy, where the boundaries between nature and structure are beautifully blurred. As the last project he completed, The Blue Water is a testament to his ability to seamlessly merge contemporary design with the natural landscape of Sri Lanka.
One of the defining features of The Blue Water is Bawa’s skillful use of open spaces. As guests walk through the hotel, they experience a harmonious flow between indoor and outdoor areas, enhanced by courtyards, vast verandas, and open corridors that channel the cool ocean breeze. This architectural openness reflects Bawa’s belief that architecture should connect people with the environment rather than isolate them from it.
