BRITISH EMBASSY, SANA’A, YEMEN

A new Embassy, located in the diplomatic district of Sana’a. The pavilion-style building is set on a sloping site within extensive grounds. The altitude of the site and its location near the base of mountains creates a microclimate; intensely dry but with periodic heavy rainfall in the short rainy season. At night there are low temperatures and the site is exposed to northerly winds. The grounds are sheltered from the wind and open aspect with a screen of forestry trees and under storey.

The landscape strategy was defined by the need to create shelter within the site by reducing the open aspect, to reduce exposure from prevailing winds and to mitigate soil loss. The shelter belts of selected indigenous forest plants require low levels of water once established. The planting is zone-based, those requiring more watering close to the building, drought tolerant species around the perimeter.

The masterplan maximises the slope across the site to create separate ground-floor access to each floor. The public spaces within the embassy grounds have open views. The private areas are set within walled terraces and individual enclosed gardens.

The site was planned in accordance with the theme of the Paradise Garden giving four distinct character zones of varying levels, privacy and shelter. The garden designs innovatively interpret the traditional Yemeni garden as terrace gardens enclosed by mud walls.

An on-site nursery was established, growing-on native planting sourced from locally gathered seeds and cuttings.

Click here for a short movie showing the construction of one of our mud walls at the British Embassy using the local Sana’a technique. Please note this may take a while to download.

Client: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Architect: Design Engine