US Embassy in Tokyo, Japan

Tokoyo, Japan

In recent history, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has dedicated itself to designing, renovating, and establishing U.S. Embassies worldwide that are more than a standard office. The design process aims to create a building that demonstrates the United States’ technological advancement and respect to the host country. 

This project aims to establish a new U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, away from the city center as a security measure. The design draws inspiration from traditional and modern Japanese architectural and cultural practices while maintaining a secure compound for visitors and workers. 

The site is in the ward of Minato City on the island of Odaiba, a heavily American tourist destination due to cruise liner docks, large hotels with a full view of the Tokyo Skyline, and, most recently, the grounds for the Tokyo Olympic Games. The site exists as a park, and to preserve this, the embassy master plan engages the greenspace while re-shaping the waterfront with low vegetation to maximize the north views of the city and the west view of Mount Fuji. 

Sustainability is at the forefront of OBO’s current work, and this embassy's design reflects that with measures taken to reduce carbon emissions and defend against possible natural disasters including earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons.