MMCA releases book on Minnette’s Watapuluwa scheme

‘Second Volume: The Watapuluwa Housing Scheme by Minnette De Silva’ -- the first research publication by the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) has just been released.

Focusing on this ground breaking project by architect Minnette De Silva (1918–1998), this book has been created to accompany the Museum’s current exhibition titled ‘88 Acres: The Watapuluwa Housing Scheme by Minnette De Silva’, which is on display until July 7. ‘Second Volume’ has been edited by Sharmini Pereira and Kaumadi Jayaweera.

A special component in ‘Second Volume’ is the transcript of the animated documentary ‘is this an architectural documentary?’ (2023) by artists Irushi Tennekoon, Sumedha Kelegama, and Sumudu Athukorala, which is currently on display in ‘88 Acres’.

Priced at Rs. 15,000, the book also includes an essay by Pereira on the Watapuluwa Housing Scheme, and measured drawings of De Silva’s house typologies for the scheme, created by architects Kelegama and Athukorala. ‘Second Volume’ also contains a special supplement of De Silva’s seminal essay ‘Experiments in Modern Regional Architecture in Ceylon 1950 to 1960’ (1965–1966), first published by the Ceylon Institute of Architects.

The book is available for purchase at the MMCA Sri Lanka located on the ground floor of Crescat Boulevard, Colombo 3, and through their website as well as Instagram and Facebook pages.