Honoring a man many describe as Sri Lanka’s greatest architect, the Geoffrey Bawa Trust launched the 2010-2011 Geoffrey Bawa Award for Architecture on Friday at the late architect’s residence in Colombo.

According to Geoffreybawa.com, the national award was set up to “recognize and reward significant examples of contemporary Sri Lankan architecture. The aim of the scheme is both to foster the production of good architecture and to encourage its wider appreciation in the community.”

The winner will be announced in May 2011 and will receive $8,870 (Rs. 1 million) in prize money.

Bawa, considered to be one of the most influential architects in Asia, began his architectural career at the age of 38. He quickly emerged as one of Sri Lanka’s most-respected architects, placing his unique style on a number of the country’s most famous structures from luxurious hotels to private homes. Perhaps the most famous building to Bawa’s name is the current Parliament in Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte.

In 2001, Bawa became the third architect and the first non-Muslim to be awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Bawa was paralyzed after a stroke in 1998 and died in 2003.

Photo Credit: Geoffreybawa.com

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