Embassies Case Studies

Vy Complex Gym
U S E m b a s s y
Chancery Building
L I m a , P e r u
ArquitectonicaArchitect
In 1989

Why ??
US Embassy Chancery Building – Lima , Peru
Because US Embassy in Lima Peru, and Lima is one of the dangerous cities
in the world that has large number of terrorists and cocaine dealers, so it
is a challenge to design an embassy that would meet the strictest security
standards.

Changes in Peru

Shining Path :

The new generation Embassy :

Name of Project : US Embassy chancery.
Architects: Bernardo Fort-Brescia.
Team:Arquitectonica.
Landscaping :
Structure engineer: Glenn Cameron.
Electrical engineer:
Mechanical engineer:
Location : Lima, Peru.
Address : Lima, EL DERBY Street
Land area : 85000 sqm
Project year : 1989

ChoosingThe site :
Setbacks
of
30.5 m

Location:
Lima

Location:
Lima
Peru:
Peru, officially the Republic of, is a country in western South
America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and
Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in
the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean. Peru
is an extremely biodiverse country with habitats ranging
from the arid plains of the Pacific coastal region in the west
to the peaks of the Andes mountains vertically extending
from the north to the southeast of the country to the
tropical Amazon Basin rainforest in the east with the
Amazon river.

Location:
Lima
Lima is the CAPITAL and the LARGEST
CITY OF PERU. It is located in the
valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín
rivers, in the central coastal part of the
country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Together with the seaport of Callao, it
forms a contiguous urban area known
as the Lima Metropolitan Area. With a
population of almost 10 million, Lima is
the MOST POPULOUS metropolitan
area of Peru, and the THIRD LARGEST
CITY IN THE AMERICAS (as defined by
"city proper"), just behind São Paulo
and Mexico City.

Approuch : CARR. PANAMERICANA
EL DERBY
LIMA , PERU

Surrounding: LIMA , PERU
Site size: One and a half Polo Playing Fields
POLO FIELDS

Bernardo Fort-Brescia is a founding principal of
Arquitectonica. A native of Lima he did his early
studies in Peru and Europe where he learned multiple
languages which would later prove useful for his
international career. He studied architecture and
urban planning at Princeton University and received a
Master of Architecture from Harvard University,
where he later taught. He moved to Florida in 1975
to teach at the University of Miami. In 1977 he
founded Arquitectonica with a group of young
architects and set up a studio in Coconut
Grove.
Bernardo Fort-BresciaArchitect:
Arquitectonica

Site Details:
- Surrounded by two main streets
- Longitude site ( Rectangular )
- Surrounded by crowded area
- Setbacks of 35.5 m from main
streets and parking.
Residential
Commercial

21 acres
21 acres
=
85000 sqm

GreenArea
Parking
Inner Streets
Solid
Outer Streets
Cars Entrance
Pedestrians
Entrance
Site Plan:
Plaza
N

Void
Solid
Site Plan:
N

Site Plan:
3 Gates N

Design Inspiration
Arquitectonica quite literally took inspiration from
Peruvian history, modeling the base of the building
on the structures of the :
Ancient cities of Cuzco and
Machu Picchu.

Concept Approuch
Layered on top are more Modern references that
commingle Peruvian and American cultures.
A grid of gold squares is meant to refer to Peru’s rich
mining heritage.
Sized to match the windows, they
make the wall look less formidable.
The bands of tinted glass suggest ashlar-patterned
stone while recalling the strip windows of Modern
office buildings.

A grid of gold squares sized to match the windows

Neo-AndeanStyle
Architecture Style: Glenn Cameron

Exterior

Night Shots

Solid 85%
Void 15%
Basic shapes
Many Colors
Geometry
Rhythm
Grid
Contrast
Elevations

Solid 85%
Void 15%
Basic shapes
Many Colors
Geometry
Rhythm
Grid
Contrast
Elevations The façade was designed as a tapestry to clock the five-
story bulk and minimal fenestration, “a Modern
architectural version of a pre-Columbian textile,”
Different materials give the illusion of depth ( Terrorists
can’t scale flat surfaces), rein-forced perimeter walls are
meant to resemble rock patterns of Inca structures.

Elevations

The building includes :
• Ceremonial Lobby
• Security Checkpoints
• Business information center
• Research Center
• Auditorium
• ReceptionTerrace
• Library
• Conference Room
• Consular services
• Consular Courtyard
Due to U.S Department of state
security requirements, only a
schematic floor plan can be shown.

Ground Floor Plan ( Functions )
Ceremonial Lobby
Security Checkpoint
BIC
Research Center
Auditorium
ReceptionTerrace
1
2
3
4
5
6
Library
Conference Room
Consular Services
Consular Courtyard
Vertical Circulation
Circulation
7
8
9
10
11
12

Ground Floor Plan ( Privet/Public )
Private
Public
Semi-private
Semi-public
Visitors circulation
Workers andVisitors circulation
Workers circulation
Workers andVisitors circulation

Ground Floor Plan ( Spatial Relationships )

Inside, the
building
footprint
is highly
flexible
because it
“allows
for large
chunks of
contiguou
s,
adjacent
floor
space.
Interior Spaces

Interior Spaces
Inside the consular
area, one of the
most heavily-used
sections of the
embassy is a
waiting room with
terrazzo floor
patterns that are
meant to recall
Peruvian textiles.

Entrance & Facades

The materials (exterior)
The materials (interior)
For more contemporary, defensive purposes, the
trapezoidal panels are welded to steel plates
embedded in concrete.
Meant to create the illusion of depth along the top is a
triangular pattern of two shades of limestone,
anchored to the concrete structure.
Like all façade cladding, by steel bolts on support
angles.
Inside the consular area, one of the
most heavily-used sections of the
embassy is a waiting room with
terrazzo floor patterns that are meant
to recall Peruvian textiles.

CASE STUDY
Location: Amman - Jordan
Surface Area: 2717
LandArea: 4676 sq. M.
Consultant: Engineers Plshyr- Daalmran
Contractor: Hussein Miqdad partners
Designer: MR Ghanei.
Architects PolsheerArchitecture & Planning Engineer
Mohammad Reza Ghanei
Clients Ministry of ForeignAffairs
In lines

CASE STUDY
In lines
Commission 2003
Design 2003 - 2003
Construction 2004 - 2006
Occupancy 2006
Site 1,600 m2
Ground floor 900 m2
Total floor 3,400 m2
Costs 3,800,000 USD

Case studyArchitect
philosophy of :
Mohammad Reza Ghaneei
EDUCATION
- Master ofArchitecture from
Tehran University ofArt
- PhD, University of Paris XII
Dr Ghaneei not only
responds to his native
historical/vernacular
architecture, but also
gives considerable
importance to the
contemporary context.
His work experience in Iran, Europe and
America has been extremely varied. His projects
consists of a wide spectrum from the urban scale
and regeneration to the restoration of historic
buildings.
Absar Pool Safavi
Residence
Sadri
Residence
Ghaneei
House
THEARCHITECT

Case study
Iran embassy
Jordan
Middle east
Location
Jabal Amman
Amman
Radwan
SITING/
Almolghi st. №7, Alrefaie st., Between Circle 3&4, AlzahranAve
.Amman, Jordan
PO. BOX: 173AMMAN 11118 JORDAN
LOCATION

Dr-Mostafa Moslehzadeh
Case study
Consul
MahmoudAsadi
Ambassador
FACTS ABOUTTHE EMBASSY
Web site :
www.iranembassyjordan.com
Jordan in Iran: Jordan maintains an embassy in
Tehran.
Iran in Jordan: Iran's embassy in Amman is the
only Iranian representation in Jordan.
The Iranian embassy is one of 107 foreign
representations in Jordan, and one of 104 foreign
representations inAmman.
The Iranian embassy in Amman is one of 140
Iranian diplomatic and consular representations
abroad.
FactsAboutTheEmbassy

Tehran city
Case study
Tehran only had a small population
until the late 18th century, but began
to take a more considerable role in
Iranian society after it was chosen as
the capital city,
Tehran is Iran's primate city, and is
considered to have the most
modernized infrastructure in the
country; however, the gentrification
of old neighbourhoods and the
demolition of buildings of cultural
significance has caused concerns.
TEHRAN

Amman city
Case study
-Jordan has a pleasant Mediterranean climate.
-The capitol,Amman, is built in terraces on
the hills, taking advantages of pleasant breeze
that flows through them.The main idea for the
Iranian Embassy in Jordan is creation terraces
of open and closed spaces in five different
volumes, to take advantages of the climate and
create a pleasant environment inside.
AMMAN

• JabalAmman is one of the seven hills that
originally made upAmman, Jordan.Today,
JabalAmman is near the old downtown
area
• is located west of the city.
• Weather conditions : slope faces south -
wind light , typically Mediterranean
• Featuring proximity to government
buildings and diplomatic plan … Zahran st.
Case study
.
JABALAMMAN

Case study
Le Royal Hotel
3rd Circle
4th Circle
Queen Zain sharaf palace
EmbassiesArea
( Iran – France – Spain – Russia – austria-lativa-baraguay)
Public park
LandMarks

Case study
Embassy of France
Embassy ofAustria
Embassy of Latvia
Embassy of Iran
Embassy of Spain
Embassy of Russia
Zahran st.
Embassieszone

Landmarks
Case study
LANDMARKS

Case study
2 min.
3rd circle
Embassy of iran
3rd circle.
The
embassy
Zahran street
Approach

Case study
Embassy of iran
3rd circle.
Intercontinental hotel
Grand Hyatt amman hotel
Le royal hotel
Sur.Hotels

Case study
embassies over the world?
In a world of continuous diplomatic relations in the 21st century is changing how
will these concepts institutions thoughts and ideas on topics such as :
- Security
- openness
- a manifestation of cultural origins updating compliance with the target culture
and society looking to the future
- a sign of friendship
- Humility
- stability
- sustainability, etc.
EMBASSIES

Case study
Sometimes contradictory concepts that must be mixed together in an architectural
design so that neither the benefit of others is not. the Iranian proposal is not
incompatible with their bed.Also provide:
- adequate security - Openness
- Humility - authenticity.
Iran is reminiscent of the authority identified but not arrogant .
building construction that would embassies needs in terms of :
- space - light
- Circulation - glossy appearance
- fits with the anatomical tissue surrounding natural budget.
EMBASSIES

Case study
In general, the 4676 square meter plot Land
- 2717 square meters to buildings and structural elements
- 2479 square meters of to landscaping and green space and waterfront and is
dedicated ramp .
In these series
- the Consular Section of two separate buildings
- embassies of the three buildings is distinct.
PROGRAM

Case study
Including spaces designed in this series include:
1. platform such as indoor and outdoor parking area of 324 square meters on it at
the level of 6 meters.
2.The consulate of gold land relatively high portion of the ground floor and the first
building in 1076 with gold
3. central courtyard and an area of 670 square meters waterfront
4.The embassies of the gold chronic high ground and first floors of the second and third
with an area of 1835
5.The one-storey building Iran and space platforms such as the building of 250 square
meters with gold
PROGRAM

Case studyDetails of concept
1. Concepts and features of these ideas can be developed in harmony with the
environment
2. splendour of nature and culture combined with design platform.
3. Security and privacy of the subject embassies taken into consideration.
4. Along with the excitement of discovering the ease of finding a space.
5. Install a sense of stability summarized in the conceptual elements and
functions embodied on.
6. contemporary oriental atmosphere
CONCEPT

Case studyDetails of concept
To take advantage ofAmman’s Mediterranean climate, the Iranian embassy is
constructed of terraces of open and closed spaces in five different volumes
that encourage airflow to create a cool environment inside.
The structure evokes the urban environment of Amman, which is built on terraces
on the hillsides.
CONCEPT

Case study
In order to achieve these architectural
concepts, thoughts and ideas were put
forward various ideas that ultimately led
to the special architectural idea is to
combine the cube-shaped
elements linearly in a Larger blades
invisible part of regular geometric forms
cut it without losing your conventional
rectangular shape.
creation and transformation plan
PROGRAM

Case study
end
beginning
15 meters
7 meters
north
south
In general, the space is dominated by two points
at the beginning and end .The shorter building
term embassy is the consular section building
height of 15 meters with a height of 7 meters in
the north and in the south with the use of
horizontal elements and connected to each
other a visual tension between them strong
created and set to be a visual system of the
composition .
Repeated cube and cube forms at different height
levels and emphasizes the visual system
above the confined space while creating spatial
and visual continuity
PROGRAM

Basement floor plan
Consul
Connection
Embassy
parking

Basement floor plan
Vertical circulation
Ramps

Ground Floor Plan
Vertical circulation
Ramps

Ground Floor Plan
Consul
Connection
Embassy
parking

Elevation
Elevation Basic
Shapes
Solid
void
Elevation wall
openings

Section
Solid
void
Section
Consul
Connection
Embassy

The Features
The use of white stone exterior.
Case study
In order to bond with the external environment.
FEATURES

Case study
In order to define space and security.
Using continuous vertical
surfaces .
FEATURES

Case study
to introduce space to clients.
Designing two rotational path around the
set and stone walls
A walkway winds up to the embassy, its walls
perforated with openings of different sizes
spaced in an irregular pattern, creating a play
of light and shadow.
FEATURES

Case study
Show of authority.
Embassy building
height at the highest point
of the land.
FEATURES

Case study
to link with the more general section of the city.
Directly related to public input :
(available with the console) or Zahran Street
FEATURES

Case study
The design of
horizontal and platform on
the roof terrace .
to enjoy the beautiful landscape and the
Mediterranean breeze
FEATURES

Case study
for openness Plan.
The use of horizontal
levels and open space
FEATURES

Case study
The land natural slope intensified by the
height of construction.
in order to :
1- take advantage of the characteristics of the environment .
2- emphasis on orientation set.
FEATURES

Case study
Design of green
space
for more compatible with the surrounding
nature.
FEATURES

Case study
in order to recall the original
architectural elements of Persian
(garden-yard Central)
The use of the
waterfront and central
green spaces
The administrator
guidance.
FEATURES

Case study
The walkway walls perforated with openings of different sizes spaced in an
irregular pattern,
creating a play of light and shadow.
FEATURES

Conclusion
CASE STUDY
using the country architecture elements in designing the embassy .
Using Jordan architectural element to not be out of the context.
Well defined as an embassy from the exterior.
Combination between the indoor and the outdoor areas.

CANADIAN
EMBASSY
Berlin, Germany
KPMBArchitects
In 2005

CANADIAN EMBASSY
Area
180000.0 ft2
ProjectYear
2005
Architects
KPMB architects
Location
Leipziger Platz 17, 10117
Berlin, Germany

ARCHITECT BRUCE
KUWABARA
Manitoba hydro palaceCenter for addiction and mental health
Art gallery of Hamilton

• The design expresses elements of Canada's
identity which conforms to Berlin’s
stringent design guidelines.
housing the Canadian mission
the Department of ForeignAffairs
InternationalTrade
commercial offices
residential space
THE DESIGN PROVIDES :
• located beside the former site of the Berlin
Wall that divided the old East andWest
portions of the city.
PAST PRESENT
EAST WEST
THE CONCEPT OF BRIDGING

INTERIOR SPACES
Public media room Ambassador’s office
Entrance hall with river

Auditorium, cinema
Canada room
On the ground
floor, an
exhibition room
can be opened
up either entirely
or selectively to
this central
space, allowing it
to accommodate

INTEGRATED ART
• works of art that are a permanent part of the building's structure and
design.
• Serving functional as well as aesthetic purposes, these works are based on the theme
of the Canadian landscape, and are created from natural or Canadian-built products
"Canopy“ BY Robin Collyer
Digital photographic image on vinyl applied to
architectural louvers in the Embassy courtyard
"River “ BY Barbara Steinman
Granite and quartzite inlaid floor design for main
Embassy reception area

"North"
Adrian Göllner
Wood and aluminum floor design in theTimber Hall
The arrangement of stars depicts an astronomical method
for finding north.
"CanadianWeather Patterns"
Barbara Astman
Fritted pattern on curved glass wall around the
Timber Hall
"The river as thread, the canoe as needle"
John McEwen
Bronze sculpture in the Canada Passage

MATERIALS
• embodying Canada’s regional diversity by using a variety of
materials from across the country
black granite and maple from Quebec
Eramosa marble from Ontario
Tyndall limestone from Manitoba
copper
• providing a rich dynamic of interior and exterior spaces
Framed glazing

The timber hall:
the focus of the design
• On axis with the main
entrance in the central
bay of the Leipzig Platz
façade.
• This decahedral room, is
wrapped by a gently
ascending circular stair
• informs both interior and
exterior spaces.

• TheTimber Hall is open to the sky via a lightly
framed glazed skylight system, includes a state-of-
the-art conference facility and first-class conference
room.

Embassy of Ecuador
Bogotá, Bogota,
Colombia
ArquiteckArchitects
In 2013

Embassy of Ecuador
•Architects
Arquiteck
Location
Bogotá, Bogota,
Colombia
•Project Area
772.0 m2
•ProjectYear
2013

The entire program is
divided into three
floors,
offices for the embassy,
the consulate, the
attaché, meeting rooms,
common areas and
services that occupy a
total of
• 772.19 built m2 and
•595.81 m2 of gardens,
terraces and green roofs
PRIVATE
PUBLIC

Reception
CirculationStairs
Parking Toilets
Consul office Financial officeConsular offices GF

Meeting room
The bridge
Attaché offices
ToiletsProtocols room
Minister officeStairs Circulation
Alert offices
1st

Ambassador’s office
Toilets
Stairs Circulation
ArchiveMulti-purpose hall
Green cover
2nd

Context
• Located in a high density neighborhood :
• consisting of residential and office buildings
• around six stories high
• with a predominant use of brick facades
contrast with the
surrounding buildings.
low heightgardens neutral palette of colors and materials

Materials
• Large white glass facades, double height panels made of ornamental stone
that frame and define precise geometries
accompanied by substantial
parallelepipeds framing important
interiors, lines that break through
the large masses that define the
main idea and that are part of the
artisanal and socio-political
concepts most
representative of Ecuador:
the stone wall, the bridge,
and the different volumes which
are clad with textures and
openings that work to contain and
convey; contain information as a
"bunker" and convey social and
political transparency.

Interior spaces
• The interior spaces at the embassy are open and transparent, visual permeability
is limited as the program DOES NOTALLOW IT but still, we are able to get a
pretty pleasant and functional lighting comfort maintaining an daylight atmosphere
during business hours.
• COLOR PALETTE: is neutral, grayscale, light earth colors and environments
intended for diplomatic tranquility and production of information, there are NO
DISTRACTIONS or interruptions.

• The roofs and gardens are a
cornerstone of the proposal in
terms of bio-climatic and
sustainable criteria, an adequate
balance in the chromatic scale
chosen to show large areas of
vegetation, creating an urban
contrast while allowing energy
savings and comfort within the
building.

Sweden
EMBASSY
Washington, DC, USA
Thomas Hanse
GertWingårdh
In 2006

House of Sweden in Washington D.C
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Area: 8157.0 sqm
Project Year: 2006
Gert Wingårdh
Thomas Hanse

A result of an architecture
contest announced by the
National Property Board
of Sweden in 2002
House of Sweden
Contest requirements included
Atmosphere of openness
& transparency
Public areas for
exhibits & seminars
Two floors of
apartments

It’s Located on the Georgetown Harbor site on the bank of the Potomac River
LOCATION

Views To The Site
View 1
View 3
View 2

View 2
Views from the Site
View 1

Contemporary Scandinavian architecture
A Physical Representation of Swedish Values
OPENNESS TRANSPARENCY DEMOCRACY
unusual features in an embassy
Rejecting the
conventional embassy
typology
Simplicity… Modernity… Unpretentious Elegance
CONCEPT

A contradiction that illustrates a general theme
where a transparent lower part
carries the more solid upper levels
CONCEPT

The Rock Creek
The Potomac
River
“House of Sweden”
An emblematic building… illuminating the idea of the open society
No Fence

30th Street
Parking is
not allowed
for guests
in this
street
“House of
Sweden”
NO FENCE
FENCE
“Another Ordinary
Embassy”
DESIGN
It invites and inspires
Swedes and Americans in
an ongoing creative
dialog.
An atmosphere of positive, creative cooperation between two great countries…
creating a base for cultural and commercial exchanges

Public Main Entrance
Private Side Entrance
30th Street
highest point to
xpected to rise

Materials
Shade to
the offices
Wooden ring
Provides
& Privacy to the
apartments
the Swedish tradition of wood painting is
revived by a computer-generated print
Six different patterns of
exaggerated wood grain
were combined
& enclosed between two
sheets of glass

Like It’s Floating
Its sparkling reflection in the Potomac River
Sweden's northern latitude is radically different to Washington's geographical location so …
The architects wanted to create "the Nordic light in the dark Southern night"
Backlighting the panels cloaking the balconies

The architects worked
with a gradient of white
dots on glass panels
The gradient extends
over three storeys
Crystal-clear glass
at the bottom
Speckled with more
and more dots
Gradually
becomes white
Exterior Glass
Opaque
Transparent

Interior Glass
By: The Swedish artist “Ingegerd Råman”
She used key elements in the
Swedish landscape
She created a glass piece known as
"March 6 a.m."
Snow
Rain
Black
Granite
Like “slowly
running water”

The maple ceiling is cut
through with unevenly
spaced, round holes
Stairs.. Walls.. Floors
are made of maple

A peninsula surrounded by the
Potomac and Rock Creek
Water Resistance Solutions
The risk of flooding called for water-resistant solutions below the first floor.

DESIGN
The Building Houses:
The Embassy of Sweden
The Embassy of Iceland
Office suites
Event Center (conference
exhibition halls)
Two floors of apartments
Total Area
Approximately (8100 sqm)
• Area Event Center: 1200 sqm
• Area Office Suites: 2662 sqm
• Total Rentable Area excl Garage: 6060 sqm
We’ll show next the public zones which visitors can rent by a
confirmation from the house of sweden

Surrounded by glass with an opened
terrace and unique moveable glass wall
panels and interior mobil glass
wall. Perfect for retreat style day
meetings, fabulous receptions and
dinners
Ground Floor Plan
Anna Lindh hall

The Anna Lindh Hall
Exhibition Layout Theatre Seating Layout Banquet Seating Layout
Anna Lindh is the most popular
space in the house of
sweden… Its glass walls bring
the outdoors inside providing
spectacular views of both the
Potomac river and Rock Creek

Main Entrance
Anna Lindh hall
Terrace

First Floor Plan
Alfred Nobel hall
An Art Gallery and Exhibition HallEvent Center Lounge
Fyra and Fem
Tre and Tva

Alfred Nobel hall
The hall can be subdivided
into two separate spaces,
which can be used either
individually or together
Theatre Seating LayoutBanquet Seating Layout Classroom seating LayoutConference Seating Layout

Black walls create the
unique canvas for the
Art Gallery Exhibitions
to really stand out
AV equipment.. high end
sound system and in
house tables and chairs
for conference
Alfred Nobel hall

Event Center Lounge
Situated on the first floor …
The event center lounge is
ideal for informal gatherings
and evening cocktail
parties.
It is highlighted by both
indoor and outdoor
reflective pools and a great
view of Rock Creek
Guests can walk onto an
outdoor stone walkway

Tva and Tre
TvaTre
Tva and Tre, two intimate
conference rooms on the first
floor plan, are ideal for
smaller meetings or as part of
a larger event as breakout
rooms
Each room comes equipped
with a projector and can
comfortably accommodate
up to 14 people

Fyra and Fem
Fyra and Fem are two
midsized conference or
reception rooms that
can be used separately
or together
Classroom seating LayoutClassroom seating Layout
Theatre seating Layout
Conference Seating Layout

Fyra’s northern glass window overlooks House of
Sweden’s beautiful landscaped garden
Conference Seating Layout
Fyra and Fem

Third Floor Plan
Every apartment has an access for the
balcony which is covered by the wooden
maple belt

Section A-A
Section B-B
Horizontal Circulation
Vertical Circulation
Sections
Section A-A
Apartment’s
Balconies

South Elevation
North Elevation
East Elevation
West Elevation

Dutch Embassy
Rudy Uvtenhaak
In 2010
Abdoun,Amman,
Jordan

Dutch Embassy
in Amman
•Architects: Rudy Uvtenhaak
•Location: Abdoun, Amman, Jordan
•Client: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
•Area: 1200.0 sqm
•ProjectYear: 2010

Architect & Some of his work:
Rudy
Uvtenhaak
The Municipal Office in Leyweg
Life Sciences at the University of Groningen
Veranda Multi-story Car Park

The Dutch embassy project concerns the renovation of an understated
villa within a walled garden.
The building was renovated and
extended because it was:
Reason For Renovation:
too small
not earthquake-proof.

*Hospitality in
combination with security
The embassy is a modern
interpretation of them.
Concept:
-They were inspired by:
“Classic modern architecture as a
new and contemporary image,
adapted to the local context of
building traditions and climate.“
in the structural
vocabulary ofAmman

Movable “parasol”
shading on the south
façade to control solar
heat gain
Photovoltaic panels providing
approx. 3% of the building’s
lighting demand Fabric covering portions of
the roof to reduce the
building’s heat island effect
a. Existing structure
reused for part of
the design
program
Parasol structural
system
MAIN
ENTRANCE
ENTRANCE
Existing swimming pool reused as a thermal
storage tank for the HVAC systems
Solar collectors to
provide hot water that
is transferred directly
to the building or
stored in the thermal
storage (existing pool)
This building has been certified under the LEED Green Building Rating
System:

Program:
The entrances and the various consulate functions are situated on the ground floor in the original building
layer, while a separate new structure above this houses the more representative section of the embassy.
Ground Floor Plan

Ground Floor Plan Zoning
Plans Zoning:

Materials & Framework:
unified character
by a light-filtering portico
made of local Jerusalem
Stone.
This framework:
-emphasizes the relation with the garden
-shades the building from the heat of the sun

Spanish Embass
José Ramón Gámez
Zahran Street

Architect: Spanish architect José
Ramón Gámez
Location: on Zahran Street between
Fourth and Fifth Circle
Area: 1600 sqm
Spanish Embassy
in Amman

Architect:
Spanish architect José Ramón Gámez
-though he has participated on juries in South
America.
“I think of architecture as a process like life
is a process. It’s not an object and I like its
flexibility,” says Ramón,
discussing how a city is not static.
“For me, a building is not a completely
finished element. It’s constantly changing.A
building is to be lived in and maybe in the
future it will change into another building;
this process is very interesting to me.”
The embassy project in Jordan
the architect’s first international venture

Concept: The inspiration
The etched façades of Petra.
“The concept for the design was to carve out a space
inside a large stone and make a place for people to
live and work,”explains Ramón.
the stone veneers of the exterior
continued indoors
with the extensive use of concrete.

The open floor plan
The wooden stairs,
The whitewashed metal railings
the carpeted areas.
“I decided to make a softer environment for the
people working in the building,”says the
architect.
“The most important element of design is the
relation between different spaces inside,and to
imagine people using the space”
To counter the roughness
of the stone
Ramón blended cozier elements,
through out:

LOCATION
Situated on Zahran Street between Third and Forth Circle
-where Spain has expanded its consulate
in Amman into a larger embassy

SITE PLAN
the landscaped compound
rooftop gardens
RooftopTerrace
Greenery
Mesh
Greenery is injected into
the space

one primary challenge
Having to move the main entrance
Rethinking the design
*Due to issues with traffic and security
The functioning
entrance was
relocated to the
side street
MovingThe Entrancee

Cellar Plan Zoning
PLANS ZONING

Embassies Case Studies

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