EMBASSY

A house representing Switzerland in Korea should combine both the influence of Swiss architecture and Korean traditions. They meet in the fascination of clarity, craftsmanship and a sense of tradition. The design of the Swiss Embassy in Seoul combines the principles of place and origin through clear spatial relationships. The ambassador‘s residence and the embassy itself are symmetrically mirrored as buildings of equal size, creating a sense of centre and belonging. The entrance in the north-east of the site leads the visitor into the central courtyard of the embassy complex, from which both the Chancellery and the Ambassador‘s Residence are accessed. The two buildings are accessed by wide, quiet staircases that lead up to the building on a slightly higher plinth.
Motifs of traditional Korean ornaments characterise the expression of the building.