22/12/2023
Brief (garden) Benthota
Brief Garden is a landscape garden and former home in Beruwala, Sri Lanka designed by landscape architect and owner Bevis Bawa.[1][2] It is home to the landscape design practice, Brief Garden Designs.
Type
Garden
Location
Beruwala, Kalutara District, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Coordinates
6°27′26″N 80°02′15″E
Area
2 hectares (5 acres)
Created
1929; 94 years ago
In 1929 Bawa was bequeathed the family rubber plantation by his mother, Bertha Marianne née Schrader (1876–1946). The estate's unique name was derived from the fact it was purchased by his father, Benjamin, with funds from a successful legal brief. Bawa realised that he lacked the self-discipline to operate and maintain a successful plantation and focused instead on developing the estate's garden. The original estate was approximately 81 hectares (200 acres) with Bawa selling off portions of the estate to reduce it to manageable proportions. He continually worked on the garden until his death in 1992.[3] The estate was inherited by his employees, with Doohlan de Silva, currently managing the property.[4]
