Royal Danish Embassy in Riyadh

Delicately uniting Western and Arab architectural traditions, the Royal Danish Embassy in Riyadh is crafted with brick walls and intricate wooden screens, creating a space that reflects both the Danish and Arab world.

Project details

Client

Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Typology

Civic, Culture

Status

Completed

Located in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh, the Danish Embassy is home to the Danish chancellery as well as the ambassador and staff residences. Middle Eastern culture and architectural style were central to the design concept, which was inspired by ideas gained from our work on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a few years prior.

From public to private spaces, the complex comes across as a small-scale city, expressing the understanding that architecture arises in an exchange between cultures.

Upon entering the premises, visitors are welcomed by a small, hexagonal fountain surrounded by soft greenery and large desert palms. Jens Lindhe, 2001

Latticework is strategically placed in wooden partitions throughout the embassy. Inspired by traditional Middle Eastern architecture, the timber screens shield the bright summer sun and offer privacy to the various rooms inside. Troels Troelsen, 1985

In dialogue with daylight

The interior unfolds in a sequence of daylight-infused rooms with scattered façades interlaced with teak wood screens. Simultaneously a tribute to the local ornamented mashrabiya-screens and the Nordic tradition of precision woodworking, the screens diffuse daylight into the space. Behind the façades, in the sheltered courtyard spaces, the daylight is modulated in a balance between light and refreshing shadow.

Native plants are placed across the embassy grounds from the entrance to its residential sections. Consisting primarily of palms, the planting reflects the surrounding environment while providing essential shade along the complex’s walkways — offering relief from Riyadh’s intense heat and supporting comfortable movement throughout the site.

Troels Troelsen, 1985

Responding to maintenance needs and new user demands, the embassy has undergone a quiet transformation — from its original bright yellow façade to a more muted, earthy tone. We are also proud to have contributed to the addition of new facilities within the complex. Troels Troelsen, 1985

Contact

All contacts

Project Director

nf@henninglarsen.com

Viggo Haremst

Design Director, International Projects

vh@henninglarsen.com

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