Ambassadors Residence Chile

Type of project: Invited two-stage competition, shared second place
Location: A estate on a hillside in the Lo Curro area overlooking the city of Santiago de Chile
Type of building: Representative residence for the Swedish Ambassador
Size of building:  600 sqm

The Swedish National Property Board, organised a competition in two stages open to architects under 40. The task was to design a new residence for the Swedish ambassador in Chile. Ninety-nine offices applied to participate. Ten offices were chosen to do a first sketch. As a second phase, three offices were chosen to join FSV on a trip to the site to discuss conditions of programme and site on location and to refine their proposals.

The programme for the residence consisted of three parts: the private housing for the ambassador, the representation areas for the embassy and the service section for the staff.

We proposed a one-story building that integrates with the landscape. The shape of the building helps to form private yards for the different parts of the programme. Each part is given its own character to nuance the movement through the residence. The vegetation is integrated into the building and plays an important role in creating atmosphere as well as blocking the problematic sun from the west.