Cinnamon Life, the latest lifestyle venture by John Keells, officially opened in Colombo yesterday, marking a significant moment for the city. Designed by world-renowned Sri Lankan-born architect Cecil Balmond, the $1.2 billion integrated resort is set to position Colombo as a major global hub for business, leisure, and entertainment.
The sprawling five million square foot development was designed by Balmond’s London-based Balmond Studio, which oversaw the architecture, engineering, project management, and interior design of public spaces, including bespoke lighting installations. Balmond described his design as inspired by abstract geometry, linking it to the ancient architectural marvels of Anuradhapura.
“The epic scale of such construction and its ground-breaking ambitions are now realised once again in a contemporary setting, uniquely, in this City of Dreams,” Balmond commented.
Cinnamon Life features a luxury five-star hotel, world-class conference facilities, a 10,000 square metre casino, residential apartment blocks, office towers, retail spaces, and an exhibition center, making it one of Colombo’s most prominent destinations.
Balmond, who holds an OBE, has worked on iconic global projects such as the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing and Qatar University, further solidifying his status as a visionary architect on the world stage.