Brief Garden by Bevis Bawa
Entering Brief is a journey through picturesque Sri Lankan countryside. You wind your way past serene paddy fields along narrow country lanes until you reach a gated entrance guarded by statues sporting flower pots as hats. Upon arrival, a circular clearing surrounded by bamboo welcomes you, and a bronze bell at the gate announces your presence. Ascending a sweeping staircase, you arrive at the main reception area. Inside the house, polished cement floors maintain a spotless tranquility, with the melody of birdsong wafting in from the outdoors.
In one corner of the main living room, a wall of books stands proudly, a testament to a lifetime of reading that includes works by literary luminaries such as Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, and Hugh Walpole.
Within the house, squirrels playfully scamper on an eclectic array of furniture, blending modernist classics with antique pieces. A Coco De Mer fruit graces the coffee table, its dark wood polished to perfection. An extraordinary wall of bottles, set into the wall to diffuse the sunlight, adorns an outdoor coffee table, featuring a vibrant mosaic of a lizard with bulging eyes.
Bevis had a profound passion for sculptures, and the house and garden showcase numerous exquisite examples. Sculptures range from Hanuman, the monkey king, wielding his club to lithe young men adorned with vines and tendrils in place of fig leaves, many of them crafted by Bevis himself.
The walls narrate the story of Bevis’s life, adorned with pictures of friends, family, passions, and politics. Photographs depict him in his dashing Aide-De-Camp uniform, standing alongside the governors he served during his career. Images of royalty and Hollywood stars grace the walls, offering a glimpse into his world. A framed photograph captures a carefree summer picnic on Brief’s lawns, bearing the inscription “To bring you happiest wishes for Christmas and the New Year, Vivien & Lawrence Olivier.” Finally, Bevis’s beloved automobiles, ranging from a Rolls-Royce Phantom I to an Austin 8, Talbot, Ford HP tourer, Humber, Morris Minor, Morris Sunbeam, and more, pay homage to his passion for automobiles.
Standing amidst Brief’s expansive lawns, one gains insight into the refined and private nature of Bevis. The grounds exude serenity and peace, free from clutter, offering the perfect setting for leisurely lunches and relaxation. It is a place that harks back to a time when life moved at a slower pace, where a man dedicated himself to creating a garden that would stand the test of time and outlive even him—a perpetual legacy to the world. Here, one can relax with friends, find solace in personal thoughts, and welcome those in tune with the spirit of the place, enhancing its beauty.
Notably, the Australian artist Donald Friend, who intended only a short visit in the 1960s, ended up staying for five and a half years. In gratitude for his host’s hospitality, Friend bestowed an abundant body of work upon Bevis.
One of the most remarkable pieces is a colossal mural covering an entire wall—a sweeping panorama of the island of Lanka. It teems with intricate details: Hindu goddesses, towns and villages, elephants, lakes, trees, jungles, forests, peacocks, monks—a kaleidoscope of life.
Brief boasts an open-air bathing area in a side courtyard, a short walk from the house. A paved path, lined with stones bearing impressions of large leaves from various trees, leads to this oasis crafted by Bevis. Turning a corner reveals an open-air room with the sky as its ceiling and walls cloaked in green ivy, with branches gently grazing one’s forehead. A prominent bas-relief on one wall depicts an impish woodland god, tongue protruding, hair windswept, and vibrant blue marbles for eyes—a piece affectionately known as “Donald’s face.”
This bathing space transforms the act of bathing into a private meditation, where one can be at peace with their thoughts. Bathing with a companion adds a touch of voyeuristic thrill to the experience, making it a haven for someone with intellectual inclinations and hedonistic appetites.
Brief’s gardens are best appreciated as a series of intimate rooms within a larger house. Each garden exhibits its own distinct character, featuring lush greenery, artfully placed plants and shrubs, decorative pots and statues, secluded nooks and crannies, and playful cul-de-sacs. The pathways meander gracefully, leading to enclaves, glades, and clearings with small lakes at their centers. The terraced and landscaped fields present a pleasing subtlety to the eye, showcasing a profusion of plants, flowers, and trees from around the world. Bevis’s vision was akin to building a Noah’s Ark of flora—a place where the towering figure, who stood at six feet and seven inches, concealed the soul of a poet.
Brief remains imbued with Bevis Bawa’s spirit—a sanctuary that exudes grace, humility, dignity, and warm hospitality. Though Bevis passed away on September 18, 1992, his legacy endures in the welcoming embrace of Brief’s timeless beauty.
Today, Brief is owned by Dooland de Silva, formerly Bevis’s assistant, manager, and landscape designer under Geoffrey Bawa until Geoffrey’s passing—an esteemed figure in the realm of landscaping in Sri Lanka.
