House of Sweden, Washington D.C.

A new Swedish arena in the US, House of Sweden is a fascinating modern building that will be much talked about, and not just in Washington D.C.

Seven questions for Project Manager Jan Thews of the Swedish National Property Board

Why is the Swedish National Property Board (SFV) building House of Sweden in Washington?

- When I started at SFV, the embassy in Tokyo had just been completed. It was a successful combination of apartments and offices, and a landmark. The Nordic embassy complex in Berlin was completed in 1997 - another landmark, with 90,000 visitors a year on the strength of the buildings alone.

SFV provides buildings that support the efforts of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs to promote the Swedish business community and raise Sweden's profile. When the architecture bill was introduced in 1998, we were able to realize our dream of doing something similar in the world's most important capital, Washington D.C.

Sweden and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs have actually had the same vision since as far back as 1961, when the Swedish parliament adopted a resolution to acquire a separate Swedish building in Washington D.C. However, the process of finding the right site has been a difficult one. We know of four serious attempts that were made but did not succeed. The current embassy on M street is viewed as a provisional solution, and occupies a significantly less favorable situation in a leased space, one where we cannot set up the Swedish coat of arms or have the Swedish flag be clearly visible from the street.

We'll soon be finished, and Sweden could not ask for better visibility and representation than House of Sweden will offer. It will be a beautiful building, unusual and exciting compared to the typical Washington architecture. And it's in a fantastic location.

What functions will House of Sweden have?

- The Swedish government has called upon the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to endeavor, in addition to its traditional mission, to promote the Swedish business community and cultural life. This places new demands on an embassy, and House of Sweden is a building designed to meet these needs.

It will be a meeting place, mainly for Swedes but also for Nordic and Baltic interests in combination with American ones. The new concept will increase interest in Swedish society, culture, trade, business, research and education, and promote engagement between Sweden and the US. The building offers an event center, exhibition spaces and, on the top two floors, 19 exclusive apartments that can be rented by companies and people who fit the profile.

Gert Wingårdh and Tomas Hansen won the architecture competition to design House of Sweden. What are the merits of their winning proposal?

- According to the jury, their proposal was absolutely superior. The jury statement reads in part as follows: "The proposal represents a sound Swedish architectural tradition that uses simple means and deliberate lighting to create an architecture that is rich in the experiences it provides, yet still refined. Simple and welcoming, and yet elegant. It also has the desired transparency and openness that the new building is intended to convey."

Personally I feel that the building is a fantastic representative of current Swedish architecture. It is a Swedish landmark in the USA. I also think that Wingårdh and Hansen's solution for the conference center is superb.

What used to be on the site where House of Sweden now sits?

- Before the city of Washington D.C. was founded, there was a small harbor town there called Georgetown, from which tobacco used to be shipped. It later became an important harbor for the boats on the canal that begins at Rock Creek.

The site remained an active harbor until well into the last century, but as boat traffic lost its commercial importance, the area around the old wharf became increasingly run down. The area did not begin to become revitalized until toward the end of the century, with the establishment of Washington Harbor, a complex of residential buildings, offices, shops and numerous restaurants. Today the area is an absolutely fantastic meeting place, consisting of architecture interspersed with parks and water.

What makes the location so good?

- First, the lot on the Potomac and Rock Creek is very attractive, with water and greenery close at hand. The lot fronts a very popular thoroughfare where people come to walk, jog or just enjoy being there. Many people sail their boats along the Potomac, and there is a rowing club very nearby. It's a little like the feeling you get from the canal area near Djurgård Bridge in Stockholm.

Second, the site occupies a strategic location in the city. The Watergate and the Kennedy Center concert building are just a stone's throw away. The World Bank and the White House are just a short walk to the east, and to the north in Georgetown there are restaurants in a charming older section.

How did the National Property Board happen to acquire a site with such a location?

- It was a combination of skill, luck and, in no small measure, hard and persistent work. We had been checking the Washington property market at regular intervals for 40 years.

SFV was aware of the site on the Potomac as far back as 1997. Conditions weren't right at that time, but when the opportunity arose again in 2002, we seized it. The developer, who has Swedish ties, had a purchase option that was contingent on his being able to produce an anchor tenant by a certain deadline. SFV took advantage of the situation.

The Swedish government agreed to a lease contract, and the Swedish Parliament later gave the go-ahead to finalize the deal. The process took no more than two months from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs initial expression of interest until the government decision and contract were in place.

Are there any risks associated with building on this particular spot?

- The first thing you think about is flooding, which happens now and then. The levels of the Potomac and Rock Creek have been known to rise. However, they are monitored constantly, and we have statistics to back us up. The building has floodwalls that can be set up in three hours. The warning time for a flood is 24 hours. Our neighbor, whose natural protection is at a lower elevation, making them more vulnerable, has had no major problems in this regard. Setting up the floodwalls is so easy that it has become routine.

Another problem is the high humidity in Washington, which generally entails a greater risk of mold. In response, we have complied with the applicable American regulations, and obtained assistance from American experts in this area. As a result, the facility will be up to the task.

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