On August 8th in 2008 the new American Embassy in Beijing was opened up by president George W. Bush and his father George Bush senior. The second largest Embassy after the one in Baghdad was designed by thy American based firm Skidmore, Owings & Merill (SOM).
Responding to the building’s diplomatic role, SOM created a secure space that is both welcoming and respectful of local traditions. To attenuate its scale, and create a light aesthetic, the still unfinished complex was broken up into “neighborhoods” based on security and functional requirements. The up to 43 meters tall buildings are composed of simple architectural geometries, coupled with gardens and courtyards, which combine eastern and western traditions.
