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The Residence
The Residence of the Ambassador has become something of a modern architectural landmark in the city of Washington. Set on a hill near Georgetown, the stark, light limestone structure overlooks the city and the Potomac River.
Architect O.M. Ungers, of Frankfurt on the Main River, sought to blend familiar forms and architectural styles for a modern, rational configuration. The natural stone of the exterior, for example, reflects the Washington architectural tradition of the 19th century and the Greek Revival era. The selection of Ungers in the 1988 design competition is particularly significant as he had been a student of Egon Eiermann, the man who designed the chancery, the embassy's office building.
Facts and Figures
- Groundbreaking - May 1992
- Official opening - September 1994
- Functional space - approximately 19,270 square feet
- Construction costs - about $18.9 million
- Landscape architect - Dr. Bernard Korte, Düsseldorf
- Details about building materials, artists and contractors.
Design
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Elements such as walls, towers, gables, arcades, windows and rooms are juxtaposed and linked to resemble a small urban complex more than a single-dwelling home.
- The structure is based on a square floor-plan.
- Official rooms and service areas make up the first floor.
- The two-story reception hall stands out with its a gabled roof. An expansive glass wall at one end overlooks the southern terrace.
- Artist Markus Lüpertz created a frieze of paintings, each depicting the head of Parsifal, for the long facing walls of the reception hall.
- Artists' works were also commissioned or chosen to complement the architecture of the entrance hall, sitting rooms and L-shaped dining room.
- Ungers designed the furniture in the official rooms and influenced the selection of silverware, china and tablecloths as well.
- The landscaped park adjoining the residence includes winding footpaths, a pond, a rose garden, and a steel pavilion.
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The Residence
Photo Courtesy of Eduard Hueber
Entrance Hall
Courtesy of Eduard Hueber
Dining Room
Copyright G. Beall
"With its formal clarity and craftsmanly precision it becomes a model for cultural diversity. The residence of the German ambassador is therefore not only a place for public representation, but also, through its architecture, a mediator between the cultures of two nations."
Architect O.M. Ungers, of Frankfurt on the Main River
Winner of the 1988 architectural competition for the residence design |
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