Brief - the home and garden of Bevis Bawa

A short journey from Lunuganga leads to Brief, the former country estate of Geoffrey Bawa’s brother, Bevis, a celebrated landscape architect. The low-slung, understated home is dotted with statues, antiques, and treasured artworks by friends, including a striking mural by Australian artist Donald Friend, who arrived for six days and stayed six years.

Archival photographs recall glamorous visitors like Vivien Leigh and Lawrence Olivier, who stayed here during the filming of Elephant Walk in 1953. The gardens, a living masterpiece of tropical design, invite you to wander through a world where art and nature blend seamlessly.