Philippine Embassy in Tokyo

Diplomatic missions have the duty to represent their countries of origin in their host country. However, as guests in their host country, these missions have the duty to introduce their country’s culture to their host in the most effective manner, often with a sense of integration and recontextualisation with their host country.

Balancing the diplomatic duties of representation and integration often leads embassies to choose between uniqueness, by showing their culture through building design, or flattery, by adapting architectural elements from their host into the building design. Aside from this, it is more important for embassies to prioritise safety and utility over beauty.

Embassies tend to gravitate towards an approach of flattery for their host country for a few reasons. Taking this approach shows appreciation for their host country and culture, willingness to integrate and cooperate, and adaptation to the local climate.

Approaching flattery with security ensures that the utility and safety needs of the diplomatic mission an embassy building houses are well-maintained while allowing itself to blend into their host community. Moreover, in the chance that the embassy would move to another location, the building’s use can be easily changed by the local community requiring less cost for any future renovation on the part of the new owner.

This project is connected to the Typical Office Workspace and Ambassador's Office projects under Interior.