Swiss Embassy in Washington by Steven Holl

On September 16, 2006, a new residence of the Swiss embassy in Washington will be opened. Its author is New York architect Steven Holl, who “was inspired by the black rocks and white snow of the Swiss Alps.” The exterior features a contrast of black-colored concrete and sandblasted glass. The interior is dominated by white walls with black terrazzo and dark-stained bamboo flooring.
At the same time, this is Holl's first eco-friendly building (the project was not designed according to American standards but to meet Swiss norms). Solar panels on the southern façade and greenery on the roof help reduce the building's energy consumption.
The concept of the embassy is based on diagonal movement through adjoining spaces, which overlap around a cross-shaped floor plan - allowing views through the building from the Washington Monument. Info>