De Saram House, Sri Lanka | Follow in the footsteps of Bawa

De Saram House is a residence designed by Geoffrey Bawa in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and is a representative work of his integration of architecture and the natural environment. The house was designed in the 1960s for Ena De Saram and her family, and fully reflects Bawa's tropical modernist philosophy. The house features an open layout, clean lines, and a clever blend of indoor and outdoor spaces. The main features of De Saram House include courtyards, large windows, and extensive use of natural materials such as wood and stone to help maintain a close connection with the surrounding landscape. Bawa also created shaded, well-ventilated areas through the use of corridors and terraces to promote natural ventilation and reduce reliance on artificial cooling systems. The design emphasizes privacy while maintaining an open and transparent feel, which is achieved through the careful arrangement of walls and greenery. De Saram House is considered a model of Bawa's creation of harmonious and functional living spaces in the natural environment.