Augustus Abbey | Portfolio

us embassy in brasilia

Educational Architecture Work

The main project given to my studio in the fall semester of my Senior Year was to design the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil. Since the studio was dedicated to Precast Concrete this was the main material to be used for the embassy. We collaborated with KCCT & OBO on the final project parameters and guidelines including the site and program. What does it mean to design an American Embassy in a foreign country?

My design was based on a spine with intersecting horizontals and verticals. I set three design guidelines for myself when designing this Embassy: Promote a sense of connection, openness, and fluidity inside the Embassy, Blend into the modern and futuristic context of Brasilia, Utilize the landscape of the Embassy as an aesthetic feature. I used the intersecting horizontals to hold the program while the verticals were used to hold circulation for the upper two floors. I used the verticals to break up the program in a sense of dividing the more public and private spaces. The outer facade is a tessellated triangular pattern with the cracks between used for window openings. The landscape on the site is designed based off of the designs of Roberto Burle Marx while the gaps in the actual embassy are meant for covered garden space where there was extra program space.

sketches done based on initial models & ideas