Embassy of Czech Republic by Chalupa Architects

Project: Embassy of Czech Republic in USA
Designed by Chalupa Architekti
Location: 3900 Spring of Freedom St. NW, Washington D.C. USA
Website: www.chaa.cz
The design of the embassy of the Czech Republic pays tribute to its unique natural setting, and the building itself is only an adjunct, not the main actor. Its form divides the site into three separate parts. Firstly What emerges is a representational circular driveway space, the austere elegance of which underlines the drapery-like front facade made of frosted glass. Continue for more info and images after the jump:

Secondly, it creates a private garden space linked to the apartments and offices use for more working-like meetings. Finally, there is the representational garden space which forms the conceptual core of the project. The garden is generously dimensioned, organically connected with the main lounged of the embassy, and mediates a strong contact between the new building and the existing residence of the ambassador.

Designing the embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington poses the special challenge (apart from the obvious creation of an environment suitable for work and meetings) of how to represent the Czech Republic abroad. It does not attempt to show what we are like, but what we would like to be like, or how we wish to be seen to the world: open, confident, friendly, helpful and respectful, considerate to nature and the environment in general, firmly rooted in rich cultural traditions and with the respect to democratic principles, and always ready to help. Our hope is that the new embassy building will foster this understanding. – from Chalupa Architects