Kandalama Café Chair

The Kandalama Hotel, nestled amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Dambulla, Sri Lanka was completed in 1994 and seamlessly integrates into the rocky terrain and dense foliage of the region, standing as an embodiment of Bawa’s commitment to integrating architecture seamlessly with the environment. Bawa’s innovative use of space and both outside and inside the building remains one of the best examples of Bawa’s commitment to sustainability.

This café chair was designed for Café Kachan at the hotel and was inspired by the corrugated iron ripple chairs of Brisbane-based architect Russell Hall. Bawa acquired one of Hall’s chairs in the 1990s and later designed a companion piece—the Kandalama Lounge Chair—which was placed in the hotel lobby. The café chair was produced in two versions: a timber-slatted indoor model and a wrought iron & mesh outdoor version. While the hundred outdoor chairs originally made for Kandalama have since been replaced, the timber-slatted versions remain in use at Café Kachan.

Phantom Hands’ re-edition features a stainless steel frame with teak slats. The frame and legs are crafted through a bending and rolling process, with welded joints for durability. The teak slats are securely fastened to the steel frame with screws.