Renovation of the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi, India by ALA Architects Ltd.

Article source: ALA Architects Ltd.

Reima and Raili Pietilä won the competition for the Finnish Embassy to be located in the diplomatic enclave in Chanakyapuri in 1963 with a beautiful and powerful competition entry called “Snow speaks on the mountains”. The project was commissioned and redesigned based on the original concept in 1980, and the building was finally opened in 1986 with the large single expanse of roof broken up into the six lateral separate buildings standing on the embassy compound today.

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

• Architects: ALA Architects Ltd.
• Project: Renovation of the Embassy of Finland
• Location: New Delhi, India
• Photography: Tuomas Uusheimo
  
• Software used: AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and Microsoft Office
• Client: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
• Architect, Renovation: ALA partners Juho Grönholm, Antti Nousjoki, Janne Teräsvirta and Samuli Woolston with Simo Nuojua, Harri Ahokas, Anders Jönsson, Lotta Kindberg, Mirja Sillanpää and Sari Vesanen
• Collaborators: SCG Contracts India (main contractor), Sitowise (engineering), WSP Proko (project management), Annukka Pietilä (Pietilä architecture specialist), C. P. Kukreja Architects (local architect partner), Jasleen Waraich Landscape Architecture (local landscape designer) Architect, Original Design: Raili and Reima Pietilä Architects, competition 1963, completion 1986

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

The interiors were designed by Antti Nurmesniemi in collaboration with the Pietiläs and the landscaping on the compound is by Maj-Lis Rosenbröijer and the Pietiläs. The large ceramic bas-relief in the Ambassador’s residence is by Rut Bryk.

The building’s most significant architectural feature, its roofs resemble the forms of the snowy Lake Kitkajärvi near Kuusamo, Northern Finland. The facades are made of locally manufactured natural sandstone tiles, white plastered bricks and white painted concrete with wooden parts of oiled teak.

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

The renovation of this mythical masterpiece of Finnish modernism has brought this ingenious building complex back to its original glory. The project consisted of a complete overhaul of technical systems, some functional updates, some changes to the compound’s entrance gates, as well as architectural work focusing on restoring the original spirit of the design and repairing misguided maintenance efforts both indoors and outdoors.

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Image Courtesy © Tuomas Uusheimo

Tags: India, New Delhi

Categories: Autocad, Building, Embassy, Illustrator, InDesign, Offices, Photoshop, Renovation, Residential, Rhino, Sauna, Villa

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