REFLECTIONS ON MINNETTE DE SILVA

 THE DOYENNE OF ASIAN MODERNISM

There are very few female architects who have been properly recognised in the development of modern architecture and design. The masters of modernism – including Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe – ignored their female partners, who deserved a rightful share of the recognition.

These female designers who were pivotal in the deve­lopment of modern architecture include Charlotte Perriand, Lily Hildebrandt and Eileen Gray, who worked with these modern masters.

Just recently, there has been a growing interest among historians and design researchers to correct the previously under-illuminated designers to give the adequate limelight to their achievements.

When a chain of political events ended British imperial dominance in the mid-1940s, the excitement of the hard gained independence reached every corner of the Asian continent. Sri Lanka was not an exception.

All of a sudden, the new nation states needed a diverse group of people who could assert knowledge and leadership in every field. Architecture and urban planning were among the most critical areas that needed modernisation for the burgeoning nation states. In many cases, the political leadership often brought in foreign (or Western) talent to establish a new prototype vision for their new nations.

Chandigarh and Islamabad are examples of the model cities driven by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and General Ayub Khan respectively. The cases of India and Pakistan were similar in that they had fo­reign modernism masters first – Le Corbusier and C. A. Doxiadis. And they worked in close collaboration with local talent – new generations of architects grew out of this collaboration to become post-independence era leaders in Architecture.

Sri Lanka chose a different path. Although it differs in the scale and magnitude of buildings, it appealed to homegrown ideas and talent with a strong British educational background. It has the names of two great architects – Geoffrey Bawa and Minnette de Silva.

When foreign architects refer to Ceylonese architecture, they often talk about Geoffrey Bawa’s great houses and hotels that appeal to sustainability in the contemporary sense, which still attract many admirers.

Today, it is even more important to keep the tradition of tropical wisdom and heritage in architecture and design. In this regard, Minnette de Silva, who was a leading advocate of combining modern design with knowledge of the vernacular, should be remembered as the truly important figure as Sri Lanka’s doyenne of modern architecture as she was the most vocal and visible participant in the Congrès Internationaux d’Architecture Moderne (CIAM) between1947 and 1957, representing India-Ceylon.

Considering her prominent family background, she would have been much more successful pursuing a political or government career. However, she chose a life of art and design.

Her efforts, starting in the 1950s, inspired many generations of architects and she became the muse of masters of modern design through her involvement with CIAM.

Even now, many art and design aficionados visit Colombo and Galle to visit Geoffrey Bawa’s buildings. Many more are not aware that there was a predecessor who really started building awareness of the environment and local culture in Sri Lanka. 

I would like to suggest that the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) hold a retrospective of de Silva’s work, spanning her entire career and globe-trotting life, on the world stage and for the general public. I hope that the proposed exhibition captures the age of Sri Lankan modernity in a new perspective and highlights a unique designer defying the limits of the time dominated by men.

Ar. Gibson Rhie, KIRA, LEED AP
Chair
International Relations Committee,Korea Institute of Registered Architects