De Saram House
Colombo 07
De Saram House Tours
Address:
61/6 Ward Pl, Colombo 07
The De Saram House may only be visited by joining a guided tour arranged by prior appointment.
Please note that the tour will only include the front and rear courtyards and dining space, as we cannot grant access to the living spaces where occupied by in-house guests. The music room is not accessible during the tour. .
Entrance Fee
Local rate: LKR 1000
Foreign rate: LKR 2000
Prior appointments are required, they can be arranged by email: admin@geoffreybawa.org
Photography
Personal photography is allowed without the use of flash or tripods of the courtyards and dining space; publication or commercial use of photographs is only permissible if expressed prior approval has been obtained from the Geoffrey Bawa Trust. Please contact media@geoffreybawa.org to request permission.
Accessibility
We welcome visitors with disabilities but there are narrow entryways so not every part of the interior will be accessible to all. Please let us know about any special requirements in advance and we’ll try to make your visit as enjoyable as possible.
All proceeds from private tours support the education and preservation mission of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust which is a non-profit organization with charitable status in Sri Lanka.
De Saram House
In 1986 Geoffrey Bawa undertook the renovation of two small houses at Ward Place for Druvi and Sharmini de Saram. In April 2019 the Lunuganga Trust took on the management of the house Bawa designed, having worked with the de Sarams to fully restore this lyrical house. The restoration was part of the Trust’s programme to conserve Bawa buildings and sustain their ongoing operation and maintenance. Druvi is one of Sri Lanka’s most acclaimed pianists, and the house is designed with a music room at its centre.
As part of the de Saram house restoration, the Trust also undertook the conservation and display of key art works in the Bawa art collection and the de Saram family art collection. An intrinsic part of the experience of the de Saram house, these works form a crucible display of works from the '43 Group, who were a catalyzing force behind the development of 20th century Sri Lankan Art.
The De Saram House is conveniently located in the heart of Colombo 7, within walking distance to grocery stores (Cargills Food City, Luxe Colombo, Home Bargains), art galleries (Saskia Fernando Gallery, Sapumal Foundation, Lionel Wendt Art Centre), retail stores (Odel, Paradise Road, PR), bars, restaurants and cafes (Jetwing Colombo Seven, Black Cat Cafe, Coco Veranda, Butter Boutique, Tintagel, Odel food court, Park Street Mews). Other attractions nearby include the Viharamahadevi Park and the Colombo National Museum.
Accessibility
We welcome visitors with disabilities but there are steps throughout the house so not every part of the interior will be accessible to all. There are very few handrails on the property. Please let us know about any special requirements in advance and we’ll try to make your visit as enjoyable as possible. Regretfully, due to stairs, the mezzanine floors of both the Deluxe King Room and the Deluxe Suite, as well as the King Suite with Balcony and Standard Queen Room are inaccessible for wheelchairs. Please let us know about any special requirements in advance and we’ll try to make your visit as enjoyable as possible.
Photography
Personal photography is allowed without the use of flash or tripods in the outdoor spaces; publication or commercial use of photographs is only permissible if expressed approval has been obtained from the Geoffrey Bawa Trust.
