Panini Tennekoon

{{Infobox person

|name = Panini Tennekoon

|image =

|caption =

|birth_name =

|birth_date = {{birth date|1922|02|05|df=y}}

|birth_place =

|death_date = {{Death date and age|2007|07|16|1922|02|05|df=y}}

|death_place = Colombo, Sri Lanka

|body_discovered =

|death_cause =

|resting_place = Borella Cemetery

|resting_place_coordinates =

|nationality =

|education =

|alma_mater =

|occupation = public servant; architect

|known_for = Chief Architect of Sri Lanka

|title =

|term = 1977 - 1979

|predecessor = V. Kandavel

|successor =

|spouse = Nandani Bulankulama

|partner =

|children = Nalinda, Shiran

|parents =

|relations =

|signature =

|website =

|footnotes =

}}

Panini Tennekoon (5 February 1922 – 16 July 2007) was a Sri Lankan architect.{{cite book|title=Architecture and Nationalism in Sri Lanka: The Trouser Under the Cloth|author=Pieris, Anoma|publisher=Routledge|date=2013|page=150|isbn=9780415630023}}{{cite journal|url=https://msd.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/2579920/atrium-2007.pdf|title=Atrium|publisher=Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning (University of Melbourne)|issue=6|date=2007|access-date=21 September 2022}} He spent most of his career as a public servant, working in the Public Works Department, serving as the country's chief architect, before running his own architectural practice, designing low-cost housing and investigating sustainable timber use in construction. He was a fellow of Sri Lankan Institute of Architects and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.

Early life and education

Tennekoon was educated at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia.{{Cite book |last=Tennekoon |first=Panini |title=My Contributions to Architecture |publisher=Deepthi Tennekoon |year=2008 |isbn=9789555080200 |location=Colombo}}

He then joined an apprentice course in architecture run by Peradeniya University architect, Shirley de Alwis, in 1945. He was selected to join a five-year course at the Bartlett School of Architecture but decided not to travel to England and join the course due to the adverse living conditions in London at the end of the Second World War.{{Cite news |date= |title=Inspiring Designs for Architecture Enthusiast |url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/021117/plus/8.html |newspaper=Sunday Times|first=Punyakante|last=Wjenaike|access-date=21 September 2022}} In 1955, upon winning a Colombo Plan Scholarship to the School of Architecture at the University of Melbourne,{{Cite web | title=Panini Tennekoon, 32, from Ceylon, studying Architecture at the University of Melbourne, under a Colombo Plan scholarship, won a competition for the design of two stands at the large-scale Careers Exhibition held in Melbourne in July - Mr Tennekoon (left), standing in the stand he designed, talking with Mr H F Downes, the Manager of the University Appointments Board [photographic image]. Photographer / Neil Murray. 1 photographic negative: b&w, acetate | publication-date=1957 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/231176559 | access-date=21 September 2022}} he completed the five-year course in only three years, graduating in 1958 with a Graduate Diploma in Architectural Design.{{cite web|url=https://msd.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/4257705/ABP-1972-class-list.pdf|title=Architecture, Building and Planning Graduating Class of 1972 and prior|publisher=University of Melbourne|access-date=21 September 2022}} He was the first Asian to win the Wunderlich Annual Prize given by the school in recognition of general excellence by students.

Career

In 1958, Tennekoon returned to Sri Lanka and was appointed assistant architect in the Public Works Department.{{Cite web |last=Attygalle |first=Randima |date=2001 |title=To see but not to be seen |url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/050529/plus/4.html |website=Sunday Times}}{{cite book|title=Ferguson's Ceylon Directory: 1969-1970|url=https://www.historyofceylontea.com/ceylon-publications/fergusons-directory/1969-70-fergusons-ceylon-directory/pdf/resources/1969-70-fergusons-ceylon-directory.pdf|publisher=Associated Newspapers of Ceylon|place=Colombo|date=1970|page=74}} In 1977, he was appointed as the chief architect. During his tenure at the Public Works department he was responsible for designing the National Library, Colombo (1976); Bandaranaike Samadhi, Horogolla; Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake's memorial, Colombo; Supreme Court Complex in Hulftsdorp (1978); Siyane Teacher Training College; teaching hospital complex at the Colombo South Hospital, Kalubowila; Kollupitiya police station; and the Department of National Archives.

In 1979 he became the chief architect of the Greater Colombo Development Authority (now known as the Urban Development Authority). Between 1991 and 1993, he was the consultant architect of the Architectural Unit of the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau, where he was responsible for preparing the development scheme and master plan for the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, and designing of the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau premises. Tennekoon is credited with giving architecture a more central role in a culture of public commissions that were heavily centred in engineering, and using perspectival drawings to convey the importance of aesthetic aspects of buildings.{{Cite journal |last=de Silva |first=Keshini |date=23 May 2016 |title=Panini Tennekoon: A forgotten legacy |url=https://www.domusweb.it/en/local-editions/2016/05/23/domus_sri_lanka.html |journal=Domus Sri Lanka |issue=20 |pages=2–3}}{{Cite web |last=Rozais |first=Naveed |date=2022-04-03 |title='Contemporaries: Considering Architectural Archives' |url=http://brunch.lk/contemporaries-considering-architectural-archives/ |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=Brunch |language=en-US}}

He died on 16 July 2007, at the age of 85, and was buried at Borella Cemetery.{{cite news|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2007/07/18/news17.asp|title=Death of architect Panini Tennekoon|newspaper=The Daily News|date=18 July 2007|access-date=21 September 2022}}

Notable honours

1955 - Colombo Plan Scholarship to the School of Architecture at the University of Melbourne
1956 - Wunderlich Annual Prize for General Excellence, University of Melbourne
1959 - Associate Royal Institute of British Architects
1970 - Fellow Royal Australian Institute of Architects
1976 - Fellow Sri Lankan Institute of Architects {{cite web|url=http://www.buildsrilanka.com/Architects.htm|title=Fellow members of SLIA|publisher=BuildSriLanka.com|access-date=21 September 2022}}

List of architectural works

= Monuments =

Bandaranaike Samadhi, Horagolla
D. S. Senanayake memorial, Independence Square, Colombo
General Sir. John Kotelawala memorial, Colombo
Manamperi memorial, side of road to Kataragama (1979): the memorial is a precast concrete structure adorned with a mural and which hosted a clay pot with drinking water for devotees of the nearby Kataragama Shrine.
Aukana statue Layout, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo
Clock tower, New Town Anuradhapura

= National Parks Structures =

Kotmotte National Park bungalow, office complex and entrance feature, at Wilpattu National Park: The structure was built with tree trunks fallen in the park, which were used to construct A-frame structural elements. Tennekoon was interested in minimising damage done to the surrounding areas when building in natural reserves.{{Cite news |last1=Wittachchi |first1=Sadev |last2=Mody |first2=Deepali |date=24 March 2004 |title=Arch Watch: Living in Harmony with Nature |url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2004/03/24/fea08.html |access-date=19 September 2022 |newspaper=The Daily News}}
Gonawiddgala Park bungalow and Timirigasmankada Park Bungalow, Udawalawe National Park
Park bungalow, Giritale National Park
Aquarium, entrance feature, reptilium, restaurant, management office complex, Zoological Gardens, Dehiwala

= Housing =

Hostel Accommodation for Male Medical Students, Norris Canal Road
Hostel for Female University Students Colombo Campus, Buller's Lane, Colombo
Circuit Bungalow for Commissioner of National Housing, Kandy
Public Works Department Circuit Bungalow, Arugambay
Tourist Guest House Complex, R. A. de Mel Mawatha, Colombo
Low-Cost Housing for Dwellers of Low Income High-Density Housing Areas, Colombo City Suburbs (1971)
Low-Cost House, Kumbuke (1995)

= Educational Buildings =

Academy of Administrative Studies, Longdon Place, Colombo
Assembly hall, female teacher trainees hostel and library, Siyane Teachers Training College, Nittambuwa
Sri Sanghabodhi Central College extension, Central Maha Vidyalaya
Teaching Hospital complex at Colombo South General Hospital, Kalubowila
Botany and Zoology Faculty Complex Colombo Campus, Thurstan Road, Colombo
St. Bridget's Convent Assembly hall, Colombo

= Commercial Buildings =

Laksala branches, Kegalla and Ratnapura
Post Office complexes, Peradeniya and Veyangoda
Police stations, Wadduwa, Beruwala and Kollupitiya
Ministry of Buddha Sasana Complex, Colombo
United Nations Development Program Complex extensions, Colombo
Supreme Tourist Office complex, Colombo
Central Finance Co. Office complex, Colombo
Department of National Archives, Reid Avenue, Colombo: composed of three circular wings, with curved façades, linked by a three-storey exhibition hall. The building presents an innovative shading design consisting of precast vertical concrete elements in front of regular glass windows.
Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau, Colombo
Central Supermarket, Pettah (1979): the multi-story complex was designed to separate spaces where fish was sold from the rest of the market, utilising a central courtyard and two tapered funnels which direct air circulation, inspired by a steam-engine passenger ship.
Supreme Court Complex, Hulftsdorp (1978): the buildings octagonal form was derived from the Paththirippuwa at the Temple of the Tooth, Kandy, and the roof was inspired by the traditional greeting, 'Ayubowan', with the joining of two palms.
Secretariat complex, Kalutara
Provincial Council Secretariat, Anuradhapura
Courts Complex, Vavuniya
Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Borella
National Library, Colombo (1976): British architect, Michael Brawne, appointed by UNESCO, worked closely with Tennekoon, in designing the five-storey reference and archival library.{{Cite journal |last=Brawne |first=Michael |date=4 January 1977 |title=Planning the National Library Building (technical report no. 2): Sri Lanka - (mission) 12 December 1976 - 4 January 1977 |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000023206 |journal=Unesdoc |via=UNESDOC Digital Library}}{{cite book|title=Libraries and People: Colombo Public Library : 1925-1975 : a Commemorative Volume|author=Sri Lanka. Colombo Public Library|editor=Corea, Ishvari|publisher=Colombo Public Library|date=1975|page=112}}