The new environment friendly design for the US Embassy in London

The US Embassy in London will be one of the greenest and most environment friendly buildings around. Thanks to Philadelphia-based architects Kieran Timberlake who won the competition to design build a new US Embassy in London, the building will be constructed near Nine Elms on the southern bank of the Thames and will use a whole load of energy saving and efficient concepts. The building will use a glass cube sheathed in a stretched, sculptural membrane embedded with gossamer-fine photovoltaic cells. This will shade the interior and also help grab energy from the sun. The building is protected by a semi-circular pool on the river facing side with a road passing between the embassy and the river Thames.

The building is also elevated atop a mound to prevent terror attacks. The building will cost about $500m (€369m, £324m) which will be financed by he sale of the Eero Saarinen-designed 1960 Grosvenor Square building.
An icon of the strength of the US-UK relationship, this building will spread its glory to its surroundings too when built.
[FT]