VIHARES & VERANDAS by BARBARA SANSONI
Review: VIHARES & VERANDAS by BARBARA SANSONI, Anjalendran. C
(architect, December 2007)
Originally published 1978, reprinted 2007 (in a limited edition of
500 copies)
Barbara Sansoni's fascination with buildings had begun in her
childhood through high ceiling , wide veranda residencies which were
occupied by her father as Government Agent in Batticaloa, Kurunegala,
Matale and so on.
Her love affair with architecture crystallized in the early 60s.
Unable to save the many beautiful buildings that were being knocked down
or being remodeled in the name of progress Barbara Sansoni decided she
would own these by recording them. Her drawings initially appeared in a
weekly series called "Collecting Old Buildings" in the Ceylon Daily
Mirror in 1962 and 1963.
These helped to create a public awareness of our heritage and also
kindled an interest amongst the students of architecture at the newly
formed Government Training College, Katubedda.
In this early endeavour she was joined by Ulrik Plesner (who was a
partner of Geoffrey Bawa at Edwards Reid and Begg) who wrote the
accompanying texts.
Furthermore Plesner assisted by Laki Senanayake and Ismeth Raheem
proceeded to measure and record seven such notable buildings. Of these
the Walawwe at Gintota and the Slave Island Barracks are no longer in
existence.
Furthermore, the splendid image house at Padeniya Vihare is no longer
seen as intended with the roof floating on the head of a lion frieze,
and reflected in the pond below, as observed by Barbara Sansoni, as this
image house has been modernized and ruined by the insensitive placing of
obtrusive columns in the exterior and numerous 'cloud walls' in the
exterior.
In the 30 years that followed these seven measured drawings have
reached a 100 with the scholarly companionship of Prof. Ronald Lewcock
whom she first met in 1969, and later married in 1981. It would not be
an exaggeration to suggest that the open house of Mrs. Sansoni during
this period often formed the center of fun and creative dialogue with
the participation of some of the most talented students who have helped
at various times with this massive compilation.
A lavish hand printed portfolio of her drawings were made available
as "Vihares & Verandas" in 1978. This magnum opus was eventually
published as "Architecture of an Island" in 1998. These documents shows
in comprehensive detail our rich vernacular building traditions, though
many of them are fast disappearing as has nearly a third of her
documentation.
" Vihares & Verandas" has been reprinted in a limited edition of 500
copies and available at the Barefoot Bookshop. In 1978, as a recently
returned architectural graduate I clearly remember purchasing an
original edition of "Vihares & Verandas" .
At that time there was nothing else that described our beautiful and
varied heritage in architecture, neither old nor new. The books on
Geoffrey Bawa, Tropical Asian Style, Sri Lankan Style were yet to come.
To say that these drawings show a wealth of architectural detail and
legacy would be an understatement. These drawings also show an
understanding of drawing for publication where the clarity of each line
must be respected.
For in reproduction thin lines tend to disappear, while lines too
close to each other merge. Furthermore these architectural drawings in
their setting were perhaps, inspired by the art of the Australian artist
Donald Friend who was living with Geoffrey Bawa's brother Bevis's garden
at Brief in Aluthgama at that time.
Through Laki and Ismeth who had helped with the measured drawings and
were working for Geoffrey Bawa, these renderings, no doubt helped to
create the Bawa style of drawings buildings in their natural
environment, which has had such a wide impact in south-Asia.
For all those genuinely interested in the culture of architecture,
rather than fleeting 'styles' of interiors which are much in vogue
today, and for those who were too young to buy it when it was published
nearly28 years ago, it is a strongly recommended gift in this festive
season. |