Pradeep takes home ‘obelisk’ trophy for his Kadju House
View(s):Architect Pradeep Kodikara walked away with the grand prize on Wednesday night at the 2013/14 Geoffrey Bawa Awards. His design
Winning design: With no beach frontage, Pradeep Kodikara still found a sea view for the Kadju House
for the beautiful Kadju House in Tangalle earned him the Rs. one million prize and a distinctive ‘obelisk’ trophy to take home.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Pradeep explained that since the building was completed in 2006, and was older then some of the other entries, he hadn’t anticipated its reception. “So I didn’t really expect anything but, the award was a nice surprise.” He believes the building stands out because of its use of very simple materials. “Also the fact that it’s not by the beach – there are other properties in front of it – and there was no view from the ground level of the sea. By situating the pool on the first level, we drew the sea into your vision.”
The re-design of the Royal Bar and Hotel in Kandy earned its architect, Yudish L. Ganesan, the runner-up trophy while Chamila Alwis Weerasinghe’s design of his own home in Mattegoda and Ranjan Aluwihare’s design of the Guava House in Mawanella, Kegalle earned both commendations.
The contributions of Prof. Ronald Lewcock and Prof.Senaka Bandaranayake to the field of architecture were also recognized with Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Geoffrey Bawa Trust.
The event held once every three years is modelled on the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, which Bawa himself received in 2001. This, the third cycle of the Geoffrey Bawa Awards, coincided with the iconic architect’s 95th birth anniversary.
 All smiles: Architect Pradeep Kodikara, winner of the Geoffrey Bawa Award 2013/2014 for Excellence in Architecture leaves the stage with his trophy |
 The top four with Sunethra Bandaranaike, Trustee of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust: (from left) Chamila Alwis Weerasinghe, Ranjan Aluwihare (Commended), Pradeep Kodikara ( Winner) and Yudish Ganesan (Runner-up) |
 Lifetime Achievement Awards: Prof. Ronald Lewcock |
 Prof. Senake Bandaranayake receiving their awards from Sunethra Bandaranaike |