Embassy Architecture: Can the U.S. Build More Than Bunkers?

Our recent troubles with terrorists have wrought many changes, including the rise of American embassies designed with such a strong emphasis on security—at the expense of everything else—that they’ve become, as L.A. Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne puts it, “one-size-fits-all bunkers.”

But a new report issued this week entitled “Design for Diplomacy” from the American Institute of Architects suggests that, while security must be at the forefront of embassy design:

U.S. embassies can, and must, reflect American values and ideals. U.S. embassies should symbolize America’s vitality, enduring strength, decency, and innovation. These essential qualities contribute to the conduct of American diplomacy, encourage international commerce, and enhance cultural exchange.

Hawthorne believes it offers a “glimmer of hope” for more elegant embassy designs—assuming the State Department’s Bureau of Overseas Building Operations, which commissioned the report, takes the findings to heart.

Fore more, Dwell magazine has video of a compelling conversation about embassy architecture.

And if all that isn’t enough, you can download a PDF of the 40-page “Design for Diplomacy” report here. (Beach reading!)

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