A Glimpse of the New U.S. Embassy in London

Today the architectural press was invited to a preview of the new U.S. embassy building in London. Designed by Philadelphia-based firm KieranTimberlake, the building officially opens next month after breaking ground in 2013.

The architects describe the embassy this way: “The form of the Embassy is a transparent crystalline cube set atop a monumental colonnade—a radiant beacon at the heart of Nine Elms. Its high-performance façade is made of laminated glazing and an outer envelope of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a transparent film shaped to minimize solar gain and glare, affording generous natural light throughout the interior and access to the site’s striking views. The tonality of the envelope shifts with the weather and time of day.”

Catch early reviews of the building by The Guardian‘s Olly Wainwright here and The Architects’ Journal‘s Hattie Hartman here.