Built to withstand an explosion, the new British Embassy in Warsaw demonstrates that high-security doesn't have to mean iron bars and window grids

Completed in July 2009 and opened three months later, the British Embassy Building in Warsaw, designed by Stirling Prize nominee Tony Fretton Architects, has been praised for the way it relates to its surrounds, while maintaining a firm commitment to advanced security methods and holistic sustainable design.

"The brief stipulated that the building maintain openness and a connection with the city while also providing very high levels of security," explains Tony Fretton, principal. Clearly, achieving the desired level of security systems in conjunction with an exterior that fitted into the surroundings was one of the biggest challenges of the project, but the end result suggests that both factors were suitably satisfied.

The design concept centred on a theme of creating a robust entity with an elegant edge. This was achieved by enclosing the main building in a light façade of mirror glass — this works as an environmental measure, as well as an aesthetic one. The translucent skin and use of bronze aluminium gives the embassy a classical appeal, while the mirroring that reflects both the sky and surrounding gardens, lends the building a formal quality befitting of its function. Located in the embassy district of Warsaw, the grounds are defined by lush greenery and expansive neighbouring parks. Roof planting and well-placed courtyards connect the building to the landscape, while also acting as a reminder of the design's genuine commitment to sustainability. "The roof terraces, the internal planted courtyards on the first floor and the landscaped grounds in which the embassy is set provide calm green surroundings for every part of the interior," Fretton says.

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