Czech architects Chalupa Architekti have won a competition to design the new Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington DC, USA.
Here’s some text from the architects:
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC, USA
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 façade made of frosted glass. Secondly, it creates a private garden space linked to the apartments and offices used 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 lounges 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 respect to democratic principles; and always ready to help. Our hope is that the new Embassy building will foster this understanding.
1. prize in a competition to design
Embassy of Czech Republic in Washington, DC, USA
architects: Chalupa architekti / Marek Chalupa, Stepan Chalupa, Tomas Havlicek, Michal Rosicky, Tomas Horalik, Jakub Chuchlik
collaborators: Adam Gebrian, Petr Babak / Laborator, Zdenek Sendler, Vit Musil + Radim Petruska / miss3
location: 3900 Spring of Freedom St. NW, Washington, DC, USA
client: Czech Republic – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
design period: 07/2009–02/2010
gross floor area: 5 490m2
breuer building for Unesco headquarters, Paris
many years ago!
Wow. SO fine. Simple, logical, beautiful.
If this is built close enough to how it’s depicted in the renderings, some of my faith in diplomacy will be restored.
strange mixture of popular nonsenses.
Top view…. it looks like underwear.
Seems like a pretty good project! The Breuer commentary is just ridiculous. Yes, it’s plan is in overall shape similar to that of to the UNESCO headquarters, but how is that in any way a problem? Shouldn’t an architect be able to draw rectangular plans just because the Parthenon had one first? Comments like that, I guess, are just pathetic attempts at trying to convey some knowledge the author believes to be exclusive. Which it is not.
super sweet! love the combination of work and entertainment. will be a happening spot on warm dc summer nights.
@Olep: Hear hear! Amen to that. They should ban commenters who come up with these annoying non-statements.
bad , bad , bad
one of the best competitions in czech rep. , one of the few good chances for good architecture for czech architects
imho such institution needs much more elaborated form, not just lets say “fresh” form
for temporary , cultural purpose definitely cool tool …
but…
Beatiful good idea
Beautifull, I like this