Embassies in Europe

One European Embassy?

Tomorrow’s architecture 

Dutch embassies abroad are often designed by well-known architects. Rem Koolhaas designed the embassy in Berlin, the Dutch embassy in Addis Abeba was designed by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Thus, embassies function as business cards for the contemporary qualities and the forward-looking approach of Dutch design. With over a hundred embassies across the globe, the Netherlands comes seventh in the global list, while The Hague hosts as many foreign embassies.

What would happen if we were to let go of the notion of one embassy per country and thought of one European hub for economic and cultural collaboration? What would such a building look like? And would such collaboration also lead to added, or different functions?

Architecture students at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague have worked on this project. In addition architects Rainer Bullhorst and Eric Vreedenburgh have written an essay that will form the starting point for a debate about the future of embassies across Europe.

On Thursday 10 June the debate took place, moderated by journalist and writer Tracy Metz. In Pulchri Studio the following speakers contributed:
Duc Boorsma, Management Housing and Facilitation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ronald Schleurholts, architect, partner Cepezed
Margriet Leemhuis, Ambassador International cultural cooperation (ACS/ICE), Ministry of Foreign Affairs