The design of the new British Embassy in Algiers reflects the cultures of both Britain and Algeria. The 1,770sqm three-level building is set out on the axis of the retained Edwardian Ambassador's residence, which is on a historic site near the city centre. The design was conceived as a series of curved, parallel walls carving gracefully through the sloping landscape to enclose the primary circulation space and office accommodation. This architectural arrangement accentuates the neo-Moorish 1902 Ambassador's Residence, preserving its view to the Bay of Algiers and invoking the British tradition of the grand house and formal gardens. This fusion of old and new has been accentuated by the use of modern innovations inspired by Algerian palace details, such as twisted timber solar screens. The Embassy?s environmental impact will be reduced through the use of displacement ventilation and an exposed concrete structure to provide thermal mass.