Bentota Lounge Chair (Upholstered)

The Bentota Lounge Chair was originally designed for the Bentota Beach Hotel, a resort developed by the Sri Lankan government in the late 1960s. The Bentota Beach Hotel (now Cinnamon Bentota Beach) is a landmark of Bawa’s early modernist style. Situated on a sandbank between the Indian Ocean and the Bentota River, the hotel’s seamless integration with its surroundings and climate set a new standard for hotel design across South and Southeast Asia in the 1960s and ’70s.

Bawa’s reinterpretation removes the armrests of the verandah chair, (hansi putuwa in Sinhalese), a colonial-era classic known for its high back, wide armrests, and woven cane seating. Variations of this chair can be found across India, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, South America, and Africa.

Originally made with woven cane seating, Bawa is known to have created three upholstered versions of this chair. This re-edition by Phantom Hands is based on the version found in the upper suite of No. 11, 33rd lane, Bawa’s home (and later, office) in Colombo. The updated design refines Bawa’s original by adjusting the thickness of the wooden frame to enhance ergonomics, improve comfort, and optimize production for contemporary manufacturing. Preserving the exact side profile, the re-edition stays true to Bawa’s form while maintaining distinct elements for each variation—as in the originals, the turned crossbars differ slightly between the cane and upholstered versions. The black upholstery fabric is sourced from Barefoot, the textile brand founded by Bawa’s friend and collaborator Barbara Sansoni.

Inspired by elements seen in Bawa’s interiors, Phantom Hands has designed a special cushion for the chair.