French Embassy, Warsaw, Poland

Hit by obsolescence and accused of brutalism, the French Embassy in Warsaw was unloved… This project has given it the qualities required to bring it into the transparent, dynamic era of new European diplomacy.

Whilst remaining respectful of the structural system designed like a Mecano set in 1970 by Zehrfuss, Gillet and Bernard, the cast-aluminium panels by Jean Prouvé have been restored to their original brilliance, an atrium has been created to link the two buildings, and panels at ground-floor level have been removed to create a new glazed level with large light-filled spaces for meetings, reception and public access.

The building responds ambitiously to the demands of comfort, elegance and user experience required of the spaces for working, along with communicating and representing an embassy, the image of French commerce and culture overseas.