Won in international competition in 2003, the design for the new British Embassy in Yemen, responds to the FCO brief for a ‘flagship building which demonstrates the best of British architecture’. Designing a new British Embassy for the post 9/11 world has meant dealing with extremes. These are best summed up in the words of the Client: “On the one hand the ideal embassy is a highly secure underground bunker. However, on the other hand it needs to be a marquee with a large sign saying ‘do come in and have a cup of tea’”. The site on the new ring road in Sana’a slopes 12m across its length, allowing public and VIP entrances at two different levels. New landscaped grounds are based on the theme of the Paradise Garden, giving 4 distinct character zones of varying levels, privacy and shade. For more information please contact The Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Awarded RIBA International Award in 2007.