U.S. Embassy

Carved out of the jungle, this new small Embassy has a distinct presence, sitting on a hill above a clearing, a creek and ravine along one border, with an entrance that winds past a massive Ceiba tree preserved and featured in the design.

The 12.5-acre campus is divided into two functional areas, an office zone, which includes a small single-story 12,000 SF Chancery with workspace for 30, and a residential complex, which includes six contemporary townhomes for staff housing, two diplomatic official residences, a swimming pool, and recreational facility. Granite, ceramic tiles, and a tropical hardwood rainscreen clad the one-story embassy office building. Materials of the residential compound draw from a contemporary palette that incorporates stucco, limestone cladding, and hardwood rainscreens. The design provides for circulation and privacy linked by a curved pedestrian promenade. The thoughtful site plan capitalizes on the irregular site by creating a secluded residential community with a variety of housing types focused on the recreational facilities.

The site generates a portion of its own power by utilizing photovoltaic cells, captures rainwater from roof drainage, reuses treated waste water for irrigation, obtains potable water supply from site wells, and utilizes Ipe wood rain screens appropriate for tropical climates.

 

Location:

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

 

Size:

6,143 GSM

Client:

U.S. Department of State, OBO

Cost:

$53.6M

Services:

• Architecture
• Master Planning
• Sustainable Design
• Security
• Construction Administration
• Programming
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