Embassy of the United Kingdom in Brazil gets project with a room for the king

When the firm Hersen Mendes Arquitetura – part of the CASACOR Brasília lineup – received the invitation in 2023 to renovate the official residence of the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Brazil, the mission was to update the projects for the arrival of Ambassador Stephanie Al-Qaq – the first woman to hold the post in the country – and to prepare the space for the coronation celebrations of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camila, in May of that year.

Projeto de Hersen Mendes. (Joana França/CASACOR)

The challenge was to create an intervention harmonious with the existing building, marked by a strong postmodern expression. Original documents were consulted to recover the characteristics of the project, recognizable in asymmetries and right and 45-degree angles. The result added a new layer to the building’s history, symbolizing the maturation and transformation of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Brazil.

Projeto de Hersen Mendes. (Joana França/CASACOR)

“When we decided to rethink the official residence, we had in mind a space that would represent this fusion of worlds. We wanted something bold and modern, yet rooted in Brazilian aesthetics – especially that of Brasília – honoring local and national artists,” says Ambassador Stephanie Al-Qaq. In addition to its diplomatic role and hosting dignitaries, the building also houses the daily life of the ambassador, her husband, and their three children.

Projeto de Hersen Mendes. (Joana França/CASACOR)

The project sought to balance the comfort of a private home with the ability to host important meetings. Gardens surround the residence and connect to the internal projects, where the existing marble and wood coexist with contemporary colors and openings that prioritize Brasília’s natural light.

Projeto de Hersen Mendes. (Joana França/CASACOR)

The intervention also incorporated works by Brazilian artists. On the long diagonal entry wall, a panel of hand-painted tiles by Alexandre Mancini – a disciple of Athos Bulcão – brings together geometric forms inspired by Brazil’s flag in dialogue with the colors of the United Kingdom. In the living room, a green marble panel evokes Britain’s naval tradition, complemented by a boat-shaped light fixture. The banquet room features a mural by Brasília-based artist Sandra Crivelaro, inspired by the flora of the Cerrado.

Projeto de Hersen Mendes. (Joana França/CASACOR)

The furnishings reinforce this cultural exchange. Among the pieces are the Windsor chairs by Jader Almeida, which reinterpret English tradition, and the Lina armchairs, inspired by architect Lina Bo Bardi. The ensemble also includes creations by Domingos Tótora, Jacqueline Terpins and Zanini de Zanine, highlighting contemporary Brazilian design.

Projeto de Hersen Mendes. (Joana França/CASACOR)

On the upper floor, the bedroom reserved for the King was renovated to receive His Majesty on a possible visit, including on the balcony a handcrafted Kamaiurá hammock made with buriti and cotton fibers.

Projeto de Hersen Mendes. (Joana França/CASACOR)

“I believe the result conveys this proposal very well: a mixture between modern British and the bold lightness of Brazilian architecture. It is a space that dialogues with the modernity of both Brasília and Britain, celebrating innovation and diversity,” the ambassador adds. The inauguration took place during the coronation celebrations of King Charles III, in Brasília, when guests were able to see part of the renovation that symbolizes, in every detail, the dialogue between two nations.