About
Bandaragama
Sri Lanka
Bandu Manamperi Home & Studio is the home and working studio of Sri Lankan contemporary artist Bandu Manamperi, located in Bandaragama, Sri Lanka.
The studio brings together his artistic practice and his work in framing, conservation and restoration. It is a place where new works are created and existing works are carefully preserved.
Housed in a distinctive brick building designed by architect Nandana Karunasena, the studio reflects a close relationship between art, craftsmanship, architecture and the surrounding environment.
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Artistic practice
Bandu Manamperi’s artistic practice spans painting, drawing, performance and installation. His work explores questions of identity, conflict and human experience, and has been exhibited in Sri Lanka and internationally.
The studio provides a space for the development of his paintings and drawings, alongside the experimentation and material exploration that inform his wider practice.
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Framing, conservation and restoration
Alongside his artistic practice, Manamperi has developed specialist experience in the framing, conservation and restoration of artworks.
With training in mural and painting conservation, as well as stone conservation through UNESCO, he works with artists, collectors and institutions on the preservation and presentation of artworks.
The studio undertakes custom framing, conservation and restoration for paintings, works on paper and sculpture, combining practical craftsmanship with an understanding of artistic materials.
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The home and its architecture
The studio is housed within a residence designed by Sri Lankan architect Nandana Karunasena and completed in 2005.
Built on a modest six perch plot in Bandaragama, the house was conceived in response to a limited construction budget and the challenges of Sri Lanka’s tropical climate.
Much of the building was constructed using reclaimed materials, including bricks, timber, roof tiles, doors and windows salvaged from a Dutch period house near Hikkaduwa. These materials were given new purpose through an architectural approach that values resourcefulness and simplicity.
The house also makes use of natural ventilation and passive cooling. Open living spaces encourage airflow, while the surrounding vegetation and a pond help cool the air entering the building.
Rather than separating the house from its surroundings, the design allows the architecture and environment to work together.
Today, the house continues to serve as both a residence and a working studio, bringing everyday life, artistic production and craftsmanship into a shared space.
Architectural details
- Architect
- Nandana Karunasena
- Architectural firm
- Nandana Karunasena Associates
- Location
- Bandaragama, Sri Lanka
- Completed
- September 2005
- Site area
- 6 perches
- Floor area
- 1,200 sq. ft.
- Published in
- The Architect
- Article
- Prasadini Nanayakkara
- Photography
- Menaka Aravinda
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About the artist
Read the biography and CVBandu Manamperi is a Sri Lankan contemporary artist and a founding member and Vice Chairman of the Theertha International Artists’ Collective.
His artistic career encompasses painting, drawing, performance and installation, with exhibitions and projects across South Asia, Europe and Australia.
His complete biography, exhibition history and curriculum vitae are available on his artist website.