Innovation in architecture can be a risky business. Unlike fashion, film or phones, buildings are required to be more than ephemeral; they need to last, to function, to adapt to changing uses. If they can be beautiful, sculptural or surprising, that is a bonus – but one that can also prove a hindrance.

An extravagant structure – one that tries to change the landscape, to confound expectations or move beyond conventions – will always attract more criticism, more opprobrium and more expense, as more conservative and nervous contractors try to decipher the drawings before submitting their tender.