With an innovative tiered design, the beautifully modern House of Sweden is located in Washington D.C. and houses the Embassy of Sweden, the Embassy of Iceland, office suites and an Event Center which includes conference and exhibition halls.
Encompassing the Scandinavian architecture characteristic of Swedish design, House of Sweden represents the values of “openness, transparency and democracy” through the incorporation of beautiful glass walls and natural light. To complete this truly unique project, Avanti was brought in to design a conference and office space that adhered to the simplicity and beauty of Swedish design.
For both the conference room and office space, Avanti decided to incorporate the Solare Single Glazed Partition System into the larger office aesthetic. In keeping with simple Scandinavian design traditions, no frosting was used on the glass, maintaining a minimal approach and aesthetic.
The full height, floor-to-ceiling application creates beautiful lines in the 100” high glass partition system. Because the exterior of the building incorporates a large number of windows and glass walls, choosing glass partition systems for the interior as well allows light to flood through the building.
The conference room required a larger entryway to accommodate larger numbers of people entering and exiting the room. To accomplish this, Avanti chose the Hinged Framed Swing door. A stylish option, the full height hinged glass swing door fits beautifully into the single glazed frameless partition system used for the rest of the room.
Fitted with a 48” Ladder Pull Handle, these double doors open and close quietly, providing smooth entry into the conference room. The aluminum framework was finished with the RAL 9006 Metallic Silver Powder Coating, creating a sleek and modern finish. The door fitting and hardware feature a brushed stainless steel finish.
The office space was also designed to capture the open, minimal feel of Scandinavian design. The Solare Single Glazed Partition System used for the office space utilized the same 100” high system as the conference room, but instead of using a pair of doors, this design opted for a single full height Hinged Glass Swing Door. The single door also features the 48” Ladder Pull Handle.
The Solare Single Glazed Partition System is an aesthetically superior alternative to solid walls. In the case of the House of Sweden, it is an example of how design can also reflect values. Through utilizing glass partition systems, the open feel of the office space and conference room encourage the free exchange of ideas, openness, honesty, and transparency, reflecting Swedish values through the office design.
One of the goals of House of Sweden is to embrace “the Swedish philosophy of environmental stewardship and sustainable design principles.” This philosophy aligns perfectly with Avanti’s commitment to sustainability. By incorporating glass walls into the design, House of Sweden is honoring their commitment to the environment and their goal of promoting eco-awareness.
The incorporation of glass partition systems ensures that natural light is welcomed into the space, reducing the need for electricity and heat. Avanti uses recycled content to create glass wall partitions, and the glass wall partitions themselves are recyclable at the end of their life.
This project is an excellent example of how values and design can intersect in a way that creates a space perfectly suited to its purpose. From the exterior windows and clean lines to the interior office and conference room spaces, the materials chosen reflect a commitment to quality and sustainability and is a visual representation of the openness and transparency that are the hallmarks of democracy.