New American embassy in London reflects design shift

$1 billion facility hides security in crystalline cube.

At $1 billion it is the LONDON — most expensive embassy ever constructed. But its designers say the new American chan- cery on the Thames River marks a paradigm shift in design: the U.S. Embassy here will exude openness, while

hiding all the clever ways it defends itself from attack.

After decades of building American embassies that look brutalist or bland, like obvious fortresses, the soonto-be opened chancery in London is a crystalline cube, plopped down in the middle of a public park, without visible walls.

The building does not shout, “spies work here!” or “stand back!” even though this city has been subjected to a string of terror attacks. Instead the vibe is modernist museum, that also happens to issue visas and might have a few hidden bunkers some- where we are not saying.

Instead of blast walls, there is a perimeter pond, with recycled water waterfalls, native hammocks and deep trenches — and on the roof arrays will run extra glass The produce the walkways, watts building of building solar back enough sports inspirational panels and to the give juice frosted grid. that the to quotes neon teak benches, sculpture, of the Constitution, Cornwall reclaimed its granite, nean wastewater own treatment subterraplant and a dozen gardens in the sky, one represent-

ing the flora of the American Midwest.

There’s also a pub, a gym, a post office and a posh Marine barracks, with millionaire views all the way to West-

minster for the hard-working 19-year-old lance corporals. One assumes there is a CIA station, but that was not on the tour.

The press were given a first look inside on Wednesday — the embassy will open its doors on Jan. 16, 2018 — and the early word from the Brit- ish media was mostly positive.

The Evening Standard called the interiors “stunning” and the Daily Mail said rather than a slick and hardedged high rise, the embassy

exterior had a “soft and pillowy” feel — because of the plastic polymer veils that drape three sides of the build- ing, enhancing its energy efficiency.

This is a far cry from ear- the lier mer that thing ing.” Ken critiques. the mayor a Livingstone, city little expected of bit London, more “some- excit- said fornewspaper A critic at called the Guardian the pond “a the moat” two British and reported jurors on that the design jury tried to block the design because it was too boring. They may be proven wrong. The reviews are not yet in. But the embassy is — if you can say this about an American embassy in 2017 — kind of cool. The new U.S. ambassador, Robert “Woody” Johnson, a personal friend of the president and owner of the New York Jets football team, demurred when asked if Trump was planning to come early next year on a “working visit” to London and dedicate the opening. “We look forward to welcoming him,” Johnson said, whenever Trump comes. “No date is set,” he said. “He’s a busy president.” There is much speculation about a visit in February. Prominent British politicians, including the London Mayor Sadiq Khan, have pressed Prime Minister Theresa May to rescind her invitation to Trump.