Brief Garden

Introduction

Bevis Bawa, owner and designer of Brief Garden, was a landscape architect and the older brother of famous Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. Situated a mere ten kilometres from Bentota, Brief Garden has been open for public viewings since 1970 and showcases over 106 different species of plant life. The garden spans over 20 acres, and is a key attraction for any visitors interested in nature and landscape design.

History and Landscape

The Brief Garden is a labour of love. Bawa inherited the land on which the garden is now located as a rubber plantation, and began cultivating it in the late 1920s. The garden is said to have been designed in the late 1960s, and Bawa continued caring for it right up until his death in 1992.

Design and Highlights

All the paths in Brief Garden take visitors back to the main house, but feature discrete seating in more secluded areas to encourage privacy; callers are encouraged to meander through and take in the lush beauty of the space in their own time before returning. The Frangipani tree at the entrance is said to be the first tree that was planted in the area by Bawa, and the garden is supposedly designed around it. The main house in Brief Garden, which was once the landscape architect’s home, has a range of interesting artwork and erotic sculptures on display. Note that children should always be accompanied by an adult and are asked to not touch the antique sculptures.