The new U.S. embassy in London: A crystalline ‘sugar cube’ worth a billion dollars

[Pedestrian]

By William Booth December 13 at 1:46 PM



LONDON — At $1 billion, it is the most expensive embassy ever constructed. But its designers say the new American chancery on the Thames River marks a paradigm shift: The U.S. Embassy here will exude openness while hiding all the clever ways it defends itself from attack.

After decades of building American embassies that look brutalist or bland, like obvious fortresses, the soon-to-be-opened chancery in London is a crystalline cube, plopped down in the middle of a public park, without visible walls.

The building does not shout, “Spies work here!” or “Stand back!” even though this city has been subjected to terrorist attacks. Instead, the vibe is modernist museum, which also happens to issue visas and might have a few hidden bunkers somewhere.

Instead of blast walls, there is a perimeter pond, with recycled-water waterfalls and deep trenches — and on the roof, arrays of solar panels that will produce enough juice to run the building and give extra watts back to the grid.

The building sports frosted- glass walkways, inspirational quotes from the Constitution, neon sculptures, reclaimed teak benches, Cornwall granite, its own subterranean wastewater treatment plant and a dozen gardens in the sky, one representing the flora of the American Midwest.

There’s also a pub, a gym, a post office and a posh Marine barracks, with millionaire views all the way to Westminster for the hard-working 19-year-old lance corporals . . . .

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...=.894f8d937b9f

[Crawford]

Not exactly sure why we need a billion dollar embassy in a country of minor strategic importance. It isn't 1960 and UK isn't even "Europe" anymore, really.

But building looks very good, and glad to hear that federal architecture is evolving beyond the fortress mentality.

[wong21fr]

Ain't no VBIED breaching that perimeter. Curtain wall is probably hardened against small arms as well.

"Exuding openness" my ass.

[The North One]

How is it cleverly hiding it's defenses when there's a very obvious moat around the whole thing?

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by Crawford

Not exactly sure why we need a billion dollar embassy in a country of minor strategic importance. It isn't 1960 and UK isn't even "Europe" anymore, really.

But building looks very good, and glad to hear that federal architecture is evolving beyond the fortress mentality.

I can't think of a more appropriate act than gifting our closest international ally with such an impressive embassy.

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by The North One

How is it cleverly hiding it's defenses when there's a very obvious moat around the whole thing?

Plenty of non-governmental compounds including corporate campuses have moats or moat-like water features around them, and few think that is sending some ominous message.

[dc_denizen]

like it.

[mrnyc]

how nice they got a fancy new state capital. i can think of a few other states that should be next in line. looking at you alaska, new mexico and ‘new’ florida capital buildings.

[dropdeaded209]

The United States is disgusting.

[sbarn]

^ Thanks.

[mousquet]

Originally Posted by dc_denizen

like it.

So do I.

For those of you guys who're sorry at this, rejoice. They will never move from their location in Paris.
They are next door to the British embassy, which is next door to the Élysée Palace where the French prez's office and services are.

They are also next door to place de la Concorde, place de la Madeleine, the Champs-Élysées, the French parliament and all this shit. They are very close to Central Paris's huge biz district and not too far from la Défense either...

Lol, they simply never will move. Their spot is simply perfectly strategic. It's the most possibly influential area over here.

This is their backyard.


https://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda..._b_789223.html

It's prettier than the White House. The US ambassador over here is someone spoiled.

Nevertheless, I do like their new thing in London... It is contemporary, of our own more evolved era.

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by dropdeaded209

The United States is disgusting.

Care to elaborate?

[Pedestrian]

Originally Posted by mousquet

The US ambassador over here is someone spoiled.

Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson started something . . . .

[Pedestrian]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Care to elaborate?

He evidently hasn't gotten over the (well deserved) 1945 drubbing.

[mousquet]

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson started something . . . .

Well, I'd rather say the (Catholic, Protestant and Jewish) rebellious enlightenment philosophers from ancient Europe did, first, then George Washington, Lafayette and others wisely followed them.

Guess that's how they can build more advanced contemporary structures like this new embassy without being burnt alive on a public square like devils nowadays.

[Encolpius]

I think he meant that Franklin and Jefferson, our first two ambassadors to France, began a tradition among the diplomatic corps of living well in Paris en profitant de ses charmes.

Btw, the old London embassy was in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, probably the poshest address in London. I think moving to Nine Elms is a bit of a step down for our spooks, but maybe it'll be a lovely place after all once all the construction dust's settled.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

He evidently hasn't gotten over the (well deserved) 1945 drubbing.

As the shirt worn be the plebeians states, "Back to Back World War Champions!"

[HomeInMyShoes]

Soon to be empty if Donald continues on his current international relationship building plan.

But a fine looking building.

[mousquet]

Originally Posted by Encolpius

Btw, the old London embassy was in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, probably the poshest address in London. I think moving to Nine Elms is a bit of a step down for our spooks, but maybe it'll be a lovely place after all once all the construction dust's settled.

You know why anything will always fail to actually impress us here in Paris?
Because we'll always have it all first. Others always try hard to make it bigger, while it's already almost done here.

That's it. For example, did you read the Ecclesiastes in the Bible? We're pretty much in that mindset. Like, why all this bloody mess when we've got it all already? And we'll always have it all first.

That is your deep, secret Paris. The one you want.

[xzmattzx]

Where in London is this again? Maybe I missed it, but it seems to only mention across the river from Grosvenor Square.