An abstract design of combination of the Lake Kitkajärvi in Northern Finland and the Himalayas in Northern India, binding the two countries through and architectural uniqueness.
Project Name- Finland Embassy
Studio Name- CP Kukreja Architects
Location- New Delhi
Site- 5 acres
Built-up area-80,000 sq ft
Year of completion-1986
Located in the diplomatic area of Chanakyapuri, the design for the Embassy of Finland breaks away from box-typology pattern around its surrounding and comes into view as a range of snow-clad mountains nestled amidst the green cover of the City.
The prestigious project has been designed in association with Architects Raimi & Reila Pietila from Finland. The project consists of Chancery, Ambassador’s Residence, and Housing for Finnish and Indian Staff.
The concept for the design – “Snow speaks on the mountains”, won a lot of acclaim as it tied the two nations through their most symbolic natural national reserves. The roof is an abstract design of combination of the Lake Kitkajärvi in Northern Finland and the Himalayas in Northern India. Irregular and deformed, yet sculpturally pleasing, this innovative roof design established a common ground architecturally. Through the heights achieved in the roof, skylights neatly tucked in the folding clefts, emerge.
The walls are streamlined with diamond-cut shaped stone cladding, subtlety supporting the design of the roof structure. The roof has also been extruded beyond the walls forming large spans of overhangs or chhajjas, which deflect the sun rays, controlling the entry of light from the exteriors. CPKA had the unique opportunity to again associate with this project 3 decades later when the Govt. of Finland decided to undertake a major renovation of the entire complex. The design challenge this time was to deal with this project extremely sensitively since it has now been accorded a heritage status considering the importance of the original design approach of this project.
