German Embassy in Mexico by Volker Staab

On Wednesday, April 17, 2007, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier ceremoniously opened the new embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Mexico City. The embassy was built over two years according to the winning design by Berlin architect Volker Staab.
His design combines Latin American and European architectural traditions and materials: both local red-brown lava stone and lighter sandy-colored stone were used. All offices and living rooms (which have wooden floors and are furnished with wooden furniture) are oriented towards one of three inner courtyards. The two-story building stands on the site where the former GDR embassy was located until 1990. With its large-format windows, the project is intended to evoke a sense of transparency and openness of this institution. The entire structure is divided by three inner courtyards lined with rows of columnar windows. At the beginning, there is the official "stone courtyard" planted with orange trees. This is followed by the "water courtyard" with a cooling water reservoir and the enchanted garden with its lush vegetation. The latter serves as a backdrop for official events and also provides a space for the relaxation of embassy staff. In the foyer, there are wall paintings by artist Renate Wolff inspired by Aztec gold and vegetation. From typically German plants (pear, oak, dandelion, apple tree), she created a richly adorned series of images. In the new embassy, all 57 embassy staff finally find themselves under one roof. The construction costs amounted to 5.8 million euros. Link>
For interest, we also offer a link to a review of the Mexican embassy in Germany. Link>