Expansion and renovation of the Swiss Embassy in Singapore by Berrel Kräutler

The existing chancery building, built in 1984, presents itself as a flat bungalow embedded in a scenic park landscape on the northern edge of Singapore. The architecture is perfectly adapted to the tropical vegetation and the needs of the prevailing climate. The previously protruding corner of the roof at the main entrance violated the integrity of the square pavilion. The building is largely based on the existing structure and completes its overall shape.

The roof now extends in a simple, rectangular shape over all the offices. The previously open corner at the main entrance has been completed, and the outer façade has been moved one meter outwards to create space for a tripling of workstations and common areas. The new, load-bearing structure is limited to a few precise measures that are based on the existing building and also significantly shape the new spatial structure. A separate glass conference room is now located in the entrance area. Next to this space, a covered plaza in front of the entrances remains free. This arrival area is designed as a slightly raised platform that offers a view of the surrounding greenery. The roof above is slightly raised towards the corner – an inviting gesture – which stands for the openness and transparency of the country. The security zones are clearly structured: Offices in the highest security zone are located at the rear of the building as a compact unit. The areas in front are divided into the mixed zone and the customer zone.