Creativity is his zen

He is a tall man with a twinkle in his eyes. He has a sense of humour that is almost whimsical in such a way that you could never tell what is on his mind. He is a man bubbling with creative and innovative ideas. One of his creations, Moratuwa Lagoon House, is among the 757 unique buildings featured in the prestigious Phaidon Atlas of 20th Century World Architecture published in 2012. He animatedly discussed the types of trees with my photographer, while we stood in the shadow of a gigantic lush tree with a splendid Bo tree in the vicinity. This week’s Reminiscences of Gold features Anura Ratnavibhushana, one of the unique architects in Sri Lanka.

Coming from a family with nine siblings, Ratnavibhushana developed from his childhood days a strong sense of nature and space. From a very early age his parents filled his mind with so many varied experiences like visiting places with natural and historic beauty. “My father was a government engineer initially stationed in Anuradhapura. We were a family of four boys and five girls, which was fun.

“Growing up with so many siblings with shared bedrooms in our home, one soon learned how to live in a community while nurturing some individuality.”

Ratnavibhushana’s constantly questioning and inquisitive mind always hungered for life’s wonders. His imagination was fed by the popular fantasy stories that his father read to him at bed time. Reading was a habit ingrained in the young boy. Visits to Sigiriya, Mihintale, Polonnaruwa, perhaps worked in his mind and honed his architectural instincts. Perhaps reading books gifted him with the skills to articulate what was in his mind.

At the age of nine he was sent to a village school that gave him a feeling of life, where he participated in the simple joys of life - of unhurried and nature related escapades with his schoolmates. Then he was sent off to a boarding school at Kingswood College, where he had many adventures as a boy scout. “From our boarding house, we would watch the sunsets over the mountainscape - red, orange, crimson and purple falling to black as the tropical night fell. I often painted these scenes as a hobby. Life then was much slower than it is now. River baths in streams was another simple joy. Our imagination was enriched by our natural surroundings. In the boarding school, there was an interesting ethnic mix of students and staff comprising of all major religions and races. We learnt ethics, values and evolved our conscience.”

From age seven to nine he attended the Hindu College in Trincomalee. “I was made to memorize Sinhala poems sitting under a Flamboyant tree. In Trincomalee our backyard joined the sea beach. I have vivid memories of watching the sunrise over the horizon of the Indian Ocean and the moonrise lighting up the seascape.”

Professional career

He studied Architecture at the IPTK (now Moratuwa University) where he met Kindred Spirits. Here he was exposed to many gurus. “The History of Sri Lankan, Indian and European architecture was taught with great enthusiasm by Roland Silva, H.J. Billimoria and Herbert Gonsal imparting an overview of the past. Roland Silva’s lectures on Sri Lankan architectural history held us spellbound. Billimoria encouraged us to draw ancient Indian buildings in plan section and elevation. He drew them himself on the chalk board with exemplary precision. Gamini Warnasuriya, a member of the 43 group of artists and an architect as well, taught us how to draw and draft. Geoffrey Beling and Harry Peris, both skilled painters enthused us about the international world of art and artists. The so called ‘Theory and Principles of Architecture’ was introduced by Neville Gunaratne who encouraged us to illustrate on A0 boards our own understanding and reaction to proportion, to solid and void, scale, light etc. “

Ratnavibhushana did his post graduate studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, Denmark from 1966- 1968. “ I spent some of my happiest times in Denmark. We were four Sri Lankan students on a generous Danish government scholarship to complete our post graduate architectural diploma.”

There is a saying that when the student is ready the master will appear. And young Ratnavibhushana was as ready as can be. Under his three gurus he blossomed into an architect with immense potential and a gift for creation.

Extravagant lifestyles

“My professional career was tremendously enhanced by Geoffrey Bawa, his Danish architect partner Ulrik Plesner and their brilliant engineer Dr. Poologasundram. I first met Geoffrey Bawa while I was in the second year of architecture school at Katubedda. On his invitation I worked under his tutelage part time in his office. He and his partner Ulrik Plesner encouraged me to design small buildings under their overseeing eye such as, the Steel Corporation exhibition tower, 1963. From Ulrik Plesner I learned a great deal about design in general and detailing in particular. His professionalism was impressive to me as a youngster. ‘Dr. Poologs’ as he is fondly called, amazed me with his off-the-cuff engineering solutions, his quick mind and genius for unravelling the most convoluted engineering and architectural problems. He was indeed the ‘ultimate’ architect’s engineer.”

Ratnavibhushana has written an absolutely unique book called Creating Simplicity. It is profusely illustrated; quite exquisite and a must read for fans of Architecture. This is meant to be his autobiography and his world outlook and social concerns are very much evident in this book. He says: “As one writes this, the devastating effects of global warming and climate change are accelerating and engulfing this planet. One cannot ignore a fleeting thought that our extravagant lifestyles may come to grief sooner or later. Maybe we architects and our clients and engineers have to contemplate the urgency of the catastrophe that looms and design with less and less than more and more. So I have ventured to insert an epilogue in this memoir with a lurking doubt whether we can afford to enjoy the extravagances we have indulged in so far and return to even a more austere simplicity as an imperative.”

Asked about his aspirations and dreams for the future, he said: “I have no visions for myself because I am 72. If I had anything to say about aspirations, that’s about our future generations. I deeply care about our children and their system of education. Our children should be given the chance in schools at an early age to enjoy what we enjoyed as an education. We should ensure that our grandchildren inherit this wonderful country. The climate is superb; all major religions are here, living in harmony. We have a very blessed land. But children have to be taught the right way. Teaching the right way is not merely passing exams.”

“Take the education system. What should be taught at University level is now often taught at A/Level. The child has no time to enjoy nature. Children today are ‘lovingly overburdened.’ Every child loves to play and day dream. Where is the time to do all of this? Why is this happening in a country with so much scenic beauty and very high bio-diversity?”

“We must be proud of our history. You must create a great love, excitement and a desire for the subject. But we are not doing this in our schools. As Architects we know the value of history. Travel and observe. Even colonial engineers did this. If you travel and observe, you will see a living culture.”

With his bright penetrating stare, he asked me whether I like History as a subject. Pointing at a history book which was on his table, he drew my attention to the preface written by the author. In the preface to his book Sketches of Ceylon History, P. Arunachalam has noted in 1906: “It is a satisfaction to know that His Excellency (the Governor) does not approve of the exclusion of Ceylon History from the curriculum of our English schools and that the deficit will shortly be remedied.” Commenting on this, Ratnavibhushana said: “they were serious about this issue even during the colonial times. But what happened to this discourse after we gained independence? Without a sense of history, you can’t appreciate what is around you.”

“The whole world is frenetically competing for resources. I almost despair! Conscience! Conscience! Conscience!”