Geoffrey Bawa's Lunuganga to open its doors to the public for a few weeks this season

Looking for a holiday experience that is truly unique the world over? Look no further as Lunuganga, the spiritual home and Country Estate of Sri Lanka's most influential and prolific architect, Geoffrey Bawa, will open its doors to the public for a very brief spell over the next few weeks.

Usually only available as an artist's retreat during the rest of the year, which is in keeping with Bawa's wishes, this unique holiday destination is truly the stuff of dreams for any travel, culture and Architecture enthusiast.

Over its 40 year transformation from abandoned rubber plantation to architectural marvel and country estate, Lunuganga has truly proven to be a veritable living canvass of Bawa's widely recognised genius. Acclaimed as 'One of the world's Hot New Hotels' in 2006 by Conde Nast Traveller U.K. and U.S.A., and 'The world's most stylish new destination' in 2005 by GQ Magazine, U.K., this heritage property offers several one-of-a-kind accommodation experiences for even the most discerning guests.

The all-white Guest Room offers tasteful one-colour elegance and simplicity, while the Studio Suite shows Bawa's considerable creative talents with its inclusion of many of his objets d'art. Even the most minor suite, the elevated all-glass Long Room, is a wonder of architectural design as it spans a curved driveway, proving its worth as a fitting tribute to Bawa's signature style. The estate also features an idyllic cottage overlooking the river, Cinnamon Hill, which offers greater privacy without sacrificing the experience in any way, in fact, with its own dedicated steward; the cottage is a romantic retreat with added extravagance.

One of Lunuganga's best features is arguably the 25 acres of Italian style gardens encompassing the Country Estate, which is still maintained according to Bawa's exacting final orders. Whether offering up breathtaking vistas from the exceptional verandas or even choosing from one of several hidden picnic spots, which seamlessly blend into the landscape for greater privacy, the gardens are the true centerpiece of Bawa's fine-tuning at Lunuganga.

The results of Bawa's 40 years of loving toil are not always a visual experience, although there is much for the eye to see. In the end, the proof of Bawa's genius is that, whether guests are Bawa enthusiast or just visit to experience a truly unique and exclusive holiday experience, the tranquility and restfulness of the environment overwhelms the stresses of every day life and the world outside. Visitors are invited to languish on the verandah while they sip a signature Lunuganga Sour and watch the sunset or the stars.

The verandah continues its role throughout the evening as it continues to prove an ideal accompaniment to some of Sri Lanka's tastiest curries served as the cuisine of choice at Lunuganga.

For more information about Lunuganga or to arrange a visit, please call The Geoffrey Bawa Trust on (+94) 11 4 710 689 for more information.

Geoffrey Bawa was Sri Lanka's most influential and prolific architect and South Asia's leading guru of tropical architecture. An oeuvre spanning almost 50 years encompassed a wide range of work, mostly in south-west Sri Lanka. Bawa has also built in other countries including India, Indonesia and Mauritius.

His genius is recognised in his sensitivity to site and context. In November 2001, he received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Special Chairman's Award. Geoffrey Bawa died on May 27, 2003. He was 84.