'INDIAN EMBASSY IN BERLIN’
Introduction
The problem was given considering a hypothetical situation where the Indian Government had decided to build a new Embassy complex in Berlin, Germany. They Indian Government had purchased a plot in the picturesque Tiergarten precinct of Berlin. The plot lies on the road leading from Potsdamer Platz to Brandenburg Gate. The problem served as an exercise to study and build in a climate and culture that was very different from ours.
Photographs of the model
A top view showing the site layout.
A view from the front with the ambassador’s residence on the first floor of the building in the circular form.
A view from the main road leading to Brandenburg Gate showing the arcade along the streetfront and the staff apartments on the first floor overlooking the road.
The glazing of the arcade has been divided into three parts. The top 1/4th portion of the glazing consists of alternate fixed and openable shutters. The openable shutters are top hung and operated with the help of electrical motors. The lower half also consists of alternate fixed and openable shutters but in this case the shutters are horizontally sliding. The middle portion consists of only fixed glazing. There are aluminum blinds on the inner side of the glazing.
During summer the upper shutters help in cross ventilation and thus release hot air and allow more fresh air to enter through the lower open shutters while the blinds prevent glare and excess solar gain. On the other hand during winter the glass and steel arcade helps to maximum heat gain from the sun and keep the building warm.
A view from the rear of the building.
A view from the Tiergarten side of the building with the guest apartments on the first floor.
Back to the Homepage
Anahita MantriCopyright © 2000 Anahita Mantri