The Royal Danish Embassy in India balances the open and democratic essence of Denmark with a discreet, almost invisible layer of strategically placed high security. The embassy serves both as a hub for culture and entrepreneurship, and as a home to the Danish diplomats. The design is a balanced union of the Northern Indian tradition of filigree-covered verandas, and classic Danish modernism with a structural feature that shields direct sunlight.
With nine years underway and the first new embassy in a number of years, Denmark’s new embassy in India functions as Denmark’s official representation, including a visa department and an incubator section for Danish companies in India.
The embassy lies alongside a tree-lined boulevard, surrounded by elegant green park areas in New Delhi’s diplomatic area. The complex is composed of two dynamically angled, three-storey wings connected by three sophisticated walkways that form two inner courtyards.
The building’s elegant simplicity is expressed by an open, white facade with distinctive vertical and horizontal slats. Designed to follow the sun’s orbit and constructively shield from strong sunlight, the slats still allow for light and views to flow into the building.
The embassy plot and the main complex are both discretely divided into security zones inside and outside, with varying security levels depending on the purpose of the visitors. The complex and the surrounding wall of the park indicate security without the former coming across as a fort, and the entrance features a gateway that houses a discreet security facility.
In New Delhi, temperatures reach an average of 30 degrees for six months a year. Rather than focus on how to cool the indoor climate, the team used constructive design to significantly reduce the need for cooling. This was a main contribution to the building’s characteristic shape, combined with the vertical slats specifically designed to match the movement of the sun.
