When Charles Jencks, considered the godfather of the postmodern movement in architecture, compiled a list of the world’s ten most influential modern buildings for the BBC in the late 90’s, one man’s name figured prominently- seven times to be exact. Cecil Balmond, the Sri Lankan born structural engineer though not enjoying the widespread acclaim that has been accorded to his architect peers, nevertheless has been a dominant influence in contemporary architecture.

He was uprooted from his home and dumped in a place he didn’t know and want to be. This compelled him to walk out, for he was not willing to accept his karma with resignation, he was young and ready to take on the world. He did not venture out for only a little distance but many kilometres through hostile terrain, finally ending up on the beach, far from home and totally lost.