Embassies of the Nordic Countries

Berlin, Germany

Photo © Christian Richters

Architects: Berger+Parkkinen Architekten

Location: Rauchstraße 1, 10787 Berlin, Germany
Year: 1999
Client: Aussenministerien der fünf nordischen Länder

The decision by the five Nordic countries to build their embassies jointly resulted from several years of cultural and economical cooperation and mutual trust.

Six rather small buildings in the condensing centre of Berlin find their weight based on the concept of a “Landschaft” rather than the criteria of a conventional building. The project was started from the idea of a whole, expressing the unity. Through a process of cutting the block, six volumes were isolated.The copper band ties up the building mass. It refers to the Scandinavian landscape and establishes a dialogue with the “Tiergarten Park”. The band incorporates all six buildings within its boundaries and forms a continuous, autonomous element. Its flowing, uninterrupted movement transforms the scale of the individual buildings. It gives the Nordic embassies the appropriate presence as a “Landmark” in the heart of Berlin.