HISTORY
The complex of flat buildings from the 1950s, located in the center of Bangkok, seems like an island. Still today it radiates the fascination of modern architecture while the surrounding gardens full of soaring trees offer a change of pace in this neighborhood filled with high rise Buildings. Architect Hans Hofmann, known as the chief architect of the Swiss National Exhibition in 1939 and as professor of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, planned this extraordinary set of buildings in 1957 to serve as the Swiss embassy in Bangkok. Unfortunately he died during the planning phase and the architect Roland Vogel ended up completing the project.
Slim supports, flat roofs and sharp projecting edges dominate the appearance of the building. The walls are freely arranged and detached from the ceilings. They reinforce the horizontal and vertical composition with various materials such as exposed brick, wood and artificial stone. The pavilion represents not only political Switzerland but also modern construction in the tropics. Modeled after the traditional houses in Thailand, the structures have a double roof for natural ventilation. Yet the pavilion began to show the ravages of time. Careless additions combined with worn-out air-conditioning and outdated windows prompted the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (FBL) to renovate the entire complex.
A new gatehouse was built to increase the security of the main entrance.

RENOVATION
The symmetrical complex consists of a main wing with three fingers. Cooling is provided by the still water basins topped with plants between these fingers. Flat roofs at various levels extend far beyond the walls and provide shade for the Building. The renovation included the entire complex. The interior finishes, furniture, ventilation, façade and representational outdoor space were all completely redone with great attention to embassy security.
The existing windows were replaced with insulated aluminum frames and insulated glass with sun protective film. The characteristic patterns of the metal curtains were either repainted or replaced. The striking ventilation louvers in the façade were replaced along with the colored panels partitioning off the private rooms. The floors and walls of the private area were refinished and new custom built cabinetry was installed.
The formal room in the public part received new furniture, wall panels and ventilation integrated in the ceiling. A new fire alarm system increases the safety of all occupants. The ambassador‘s office received new furniture and a reception to match. New HVAC and lighting provide for a pleasant indoor climate. The chancery’s visa department was enlarged. So were the waiting room and counter space.
Rüssli Architekten entirely redesigned the entrance. The gatehouse is now to the left of the gate and serves as an entrance for guests. The small new building with its sharp horizontal and vertical slabs of concrete, the gate and the patterned fence derive from Hofmann’s architectural language and seamlessly integrate the new elements into the existing complex. The Employee entrance is located on the opposite side of the gate. The architects selected cast in place concrete and granite curbs as a long-term solution for the driveway pavement.
The renovation has greatly enhanced the public and private rooms in the embassy. The Swiss embassy in Bangkok represents Switzerland as model country for sustainable architecture.