JKH’s Waterfront to put SL on world map: Balmond

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam

World-renowned designer and architect Cecil Balmond expressed confidence in the Waterfront, Sri Lanka’s largest private sector investment, as being an icon for the region and one that would put the nation on the world map.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily FT, Balmond, designer of the newest project by John Keells Holdings (JKH) said: “The Waterfront is very unique. It will be a big icon for the region and not just Sri Lanka. From an architecture and design point of view it will be a composition of several forms. It will be like nothing Sri Lanka has ever seen.” Balmond, who has been the hand behind the designs of some the most popular buildings in the world, such as the ArcelorMittal Orbit in London, highlighted the Waterfront is certainly a different project for the country as it would be a mini city within a city.

The project is said to include an 850-bed hotel, a retail centre, conference facilities, 400 apartment units and many more components.
Balmond Studious is responsible for project management, all design and site supervision of the Waterfront.

With JHK having wanted an iconic project, one that is “special” for their largest investment of $ 650 million, he revealed that the architectural form of the Waterfront best expresses the ambition of JKH, to which there is no limit with the aim of being the biggest.

“Behind the commercial project of JKH is the story of an icon for Sri Lanka. It is a narrative of success, which is that Sri Lanka is emerging big from the war. It is a world statement. The construction alone is just $ 650 million but it is major by any standard in the world. My own personal ambition is to put Sri Lanka on the world map, and the Waterfront gives me that opportunity,” he expressed.

While the project is the first-of-its-kind in Sri Lanka, Balmond pointed out the key challenge is the scale.

“Sri Lankan ability is good but they have never been exposed to a multi-scale project where all is happening at one time. Here there are three towers, with a hotel that is as big as the three towers, a retail centre with a curved roof, something that has never been built in Sri Lanka. That is why we had some of the finest talent from our UK office come here during the initial stages,” observed Balmond.

The time set for the project is six years, of which two years is for designing and four years for construction.

http://www.ft.lk/2014/10/14/jkhs-waterfront-to-put-sl-on-world-map-balmond/