British Embassy, Algiers: modern heart of capital

[More Images]

Architect: John McAslan + Partners

Client: British Foreign Office

THE PROJECT

Algiers is not known for modernist architecture; in fact the closest the city has to a contemporary building was designed by Swiss-French urbanist architect Le Corbusier some 70 years ago. But with the new British Embassy John McAslan and Partners were determined to break that dry spell, and effectively fuse the site’s historical background with ambitious modernist themes. The building incorporates a visa applications room, offices and a recreation center with an outdoor swimming pool and landscaped gardens. JMP had to work around the historic Ambassador’s Residence, contrasting its colonial style with a modern, eco-friendly building that will serve as an administrative hub for a busy embassy. As well as disabled access and ecological concerns, JMP also had to incorporate security perimeters into the site while retaining an open and well-landscaped space. They also had to bear in mind cost, with the British Foreign Office conscious not spend too much taxpayers’ cash.

Story continues below

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT I knew the place when it was called Emerald Park. The gardens were a heaven of greenery in a dusty city and they have co   1 Comments Read more comments »

THE SITE

The FCO sought to incorporate the embassy into the grounds of the residence rather than finding another site elsewhere in order to save money, as well as to ensure greater security. From the garden, the massing of the three-storey building appears to be reduced because the ground floor is partly sunk. The ground and first level floor plates step back in plan, delivering a building of 1,800m² gross internal area on a tight footprint. With stunning views over the Bay of Tangiers, designers had to be careful that the embassy did not obscure the line of sight from the residence building.

THE CONCEPT

The embassy was designed to fuse Arab and colonial architecture, creating a 21st century building that did not look out of place in a traditional setting. At the same time, explained London-based architect Simon Goode, JMP did not want to create a pastiche of Islamic architecture. While the form and layout are distinctly modernist, Islamic themes are subtly alluded to rather than duplicated outright. The architects also had to maintain both a physical and conceptual separation between the modern embassy and the pre-existing colonial residence.

[[page break]]

WOOD

One of the most notable landscape features on the site is the 6m high wooden twisted fins which separate the embassy from the residence, while also providing shading. The slats are made of FSC-certified Brazilian secondary species hardwood and were steam twisted by West Country timber expert Michael Berringer. “We would never have got away with doing something purely decorative, so we had to go after something with a positive use,” JMP’s Goode said.

SECURITY

“Security was a fundamental part of the project, as it was the main reason why they relocated the embassy onto the residence site in the first place,” Goode said. The architects had to meet regularly with the FCO security forces to discuss how to protect the site, and striking the balance between security concerns and architectural considerations was one of the most challenging parts of the project. “It was important to ensure that the building, while secure, did not look like a military compound,“ Goode said.

Story continues below

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT I knew the place when it was called Emerald Park. The gardens were a heaven of greenery in a dusty city and they have co   1 Comments Read more comments »

INTERIOR

The interior of the building was a challenge, as the inherent emphasis on functionality of an embassy ran the risk of making it look boring and sterile. While the architects did introduce subtle references to Algerian architecture – by imitating the winding streets of the Kasbah in the building’s curved, narrow corridors – they did not want to go overboard with interior design.

“There’s already a lot going on with this building, we felt it would be best just to keep it clean,” Goode explained.

ENVIRONMENT

Environmental initiatives were, as always, important to the development, and while the twisted wooden fins add to the appearance of the building, they also act as shading for the embassy and reduce solar gain. The use of concrete also has a cooling effect on the interior, cutting down on air conditioning bills. The finished embassy is the first building in Algeria with a BREEAM rating, achieving ‘good’.

COST

Every element of the building underwent a cost evaluation, including the roofing, walls, and internal fit-out, while the use of fair face concrete throughout reduced the need for additional finishes.