Public Architecture

Don't destroy, re-deploy

Today we celebrate good architecture:

This is the former US Embassy in Oslo, Norway.

A striking, triangular landmark was the brainchild of renowned Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen. Completed in 1959, it stands as one of only three buildings he designed in Europe, and is one of the three standout constructs he built for the public sector (the Gateway Arch and the TWA terminal being the others.)

Initially, the building wasn't just an embassy, but a "cultural house" open to the public. It housed a library with American literature, jazz and rock records, an auditorium for films, and even an exhibition hall.

But then in 2017, the US embassy moved to a new, more secure location. Lots of times this would lead to the frustrating debate about whether the public sector should maintain architecturally relevant (quite a subjective test) buildings. But we were spared that when, the iconic building was bought by Fredensborg, a Norwegian company, and underwent an extensive renovation/restoration.

This is really, really good. The Saarinen embassy is not just a beautiful building; it's a cultural symbol. Its journey from an open cultural space to a fortress and now back to a public-facing venue speaks volumes about changing times and priorities. It also ensures that the public can enjoy and engage with a dynamic architectural story (and building) with chapters past, present, and future.