U.S. EMBASSY MBABANE, SWAZILAND

By creating terraced landscaping on this sloped property in Africa, we harmonized the site with surrounding agricultural terracing. We concealed the security edge of the property using alternative materials and setback from the street. We softened that edge with natural materials and used fences rather than walls, which create transparency and connect the embassy with the community. We provided bridging documents for the design of a collaborative environment inside the New Office Building, one of eight facilities on the campus. Open floor plans and workspaces, and glazed offices and meeting rooms encourage interaction. The office building with its terra-cotta rainscreen features a curved gallery with a blast-resistant glazed curtain wall.