First look at new US embassy in London

Images of the new United States (US) Embassy in London have been revealed, ahead of its opening in January 2018.

The new building has been designed by US-based architectural practice Kieran Timberlake, and is based in Nine Elms, South London.

The building is reportedly the most expensive embassy in the world at $1bn (£750 million), according to The Independent.

It will be the first time since 1785 – when John Adams became the first ambassador to the Court of St. James’s – that the embassy has not been based at Grosvenor Square in Mayfair.

The previous building was designed by Eero Saarinen in 1960, but has since become “over-crowded” and “unable to meet modern-day security and workplace needs”, says Kieran Timberlake.

The new embassy will look to “serve as the centrepiece of one of America’s longest-standing and most valued relationships”, Kieran Timberlake adds.

The architectural practice was briefed to create a building that would provide a “strong sense of welcome for the community”, but also meet specific security, diplomatic and environmental requirements.

The area outside of the embassy sees a public park containing a pond, walkways and seating. The garden theme is continued inside the building, where there are curved walkways with gardens on each floor.

The embassy will open to the public on 16 January 2018.