transformed over four decades into a labyrinth of “garden rooms” connected by winding paths. Sculptures, fountains, and follies punctuate the dense greenery: a Japanese moon gate, a Bacchus bird bath, a whimsical homoerotic figure peering mischievously from behind bamboo. The house at its heart feels alive with memory. Murals by artist Donald Friend depict Sri Lankan traditions in vivid strokes; books, photographs, and objets d’art capture the bohemian spirit of its creator. Here, Bevis entertained the world—avant- garde artists, literati, Hollywood legends like Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, and even Queen Ingrid of Denmark. His humour, irreverence, and eye for beauty linger still, as if he might step out from behind a hedge with a sly grin. Nearby is Lunuganga, the country estate of Geoffrey Bawa—Bevis’s younger brother and one of Asia’s most influential architects. Where Brief is playful and eccentric, Lunuganga is lyrical and refined, a symphony of garden and architecture in perfect balance. Together, the two estates form a dialogue of creativity that continues to inspire Calamansi Cove Villas in Balapitiya. Inspired by Dooland de Silva, Bevis’s protégé, and later his son Dan, this sanctuary merges tropical design with ecological sensitivity. Villas are tucked into groves of palms and flowering araliya, mango and jackfruit trees, while King coconuts rise like guardians against salt and wind. The very name—Calamansi— evokes freshness. Its small citrus fruit, beloved in the Philippines, greets guests as a welcome drink, tart and sunlit, perfectly capturing the spirit of the place. Here, biodiversity is restored, privacy preserved, and the rhythm of coastal life flows with effortless grace. The Green Embrace generations. BY THE SEA The lineage extends to the coast at Sri Lanka is often remembered for its golden beaches, yet its true soul lies inland—in its gardens, forests, temples, and the generosity of its people. To walk its paths is to be enveloped in green, in history, in ritual, in flavour. It is to witness a landscape both ancient and ever-renewing.More than a destination, Sri Lanka is an embrace: lush, layered, and infinitely alive. EC
Entrance to Brief mural by Donald-Friend
The beach at Balapitiya
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EC Magazines | Manila Edition 2025
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