Architect Minnette de Silva pioneered Sri Lankan modernism, yet her work has been largely forgotten


These setbacks toughened her demeanour. [...] Her toughness soon gave her a reputation for being a “difficult woman”. Following an intense period of building in the 1950s, De Silva’s contracts dried up, while [Geoffrey] Bawa’s rocketed. Ismeth Raheem, an architect who worked closely with Bawa in the early years, recalls De Silva telling him on several occasions: “I was dismissed because I am a woman. I was never taken seriously for my work.”



While Minnette de Silva's influence can be seen in the more progressive architecture in Colombo in her native Sri Lanka, “her contribution to architecture has been only belatedly – and sometimes begrudgingly – acknowledged,” writes Shiromi Pinto in The Guardian. 

Throughout her career, de Silva wasn't taken seriously as an architect, and her studio and her surviving built works remain in a precarious state 20 years after her death. However, close associates like architect C Anjalendran are ensuring that her work isn't forgotten.

Justine Testado via Archinect - News http://bit.ly/2GHAqLt

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