Lutyen's British Embassy public spaces

The public spaces of Lutyen's British Embassy exemplify the British Country House look; grand, luxurious with an aire of informality, and above all Classical, albeit with a twist.

After ascending the Main stair one is confronted with a long corridor that creates the spine of the house. This axis is meant to impress the visitor, leading one to believe that the house is much larger than it actually is, while also providing ample room to entertain.

One can follow this strict axis in the floorplan above.  Much in the Beaux Arts mode, the initial spaces are where no expense is spared and the details are ravishing.

These plaster capitals, moulding, and scagliola columns would not escape the notice of the most ardent non-aesthete.

The ballroom is not hidden behind doors but rather creates a cross-axis with the corridor. Notice the Warhol portrait of Queen Elizabeth II above the mantel. The mirrors with mounted crystal sconces were my favorite part of the room. Original to the space they had been removed for decades before a previous ambassador had them re-installed.

 The level of detail found in these 85 year old plaster mouldings is impressive; no over-painting regimen here!

After the ballroom one approaches the large corner drawing room, with multiple seating groups, which faces the beautiful lawn and gardens.

 As can be expected in a house with this many large windows the quality of light is beautiful.

Opposite from the drawing room is the dining room. Again the corner location makes for the best use of light even with the opulent curtains.

These crystal girandoles flanking the mantel were show-stoppers. The mantel had been painted gray until one day a painter noticed that it was made of an orange scagliola;  the paint was judiciously removed from the columns and direct fire surround for contrast.

My favorite shot I took in the house, and which sums up the entire British attitude towards such grandeur, was this table lamp in the dining room slightly askew;  Modest to a fault.

While I took hundreds of photos I have to leave some of the house a mystery so you check out the amazing book which was the purpose for my tour: The Architecture of Diplomacy: The British Ambassador's Residence in Washington. Above and in the first photo of this post you see images of the ambassador's private study which artfully bridges what was once the connection between the residence and the embassy.

No Englishman's study would be complete without a bar: this one complete with a portrait of Field Marshal Montgomery, expertly painted by President Eisenhower in 1952. And not to fret, while this may be the only general overview I'll post on the interior of the house (really, get the book as my images could NEVER compare), I still have stunning details to bring you from Lutyen's American Masterpiece: The British Embassy.

Lutyen's British Embassy: Main Stair

The main staircase at the British Embassy was designed by Lutyens to awe all visitors and make a grand statement. The entrance to the embassy is somewhat discreet.

One arrives underneath a classical porte cochere in the center of the complex (underneath D on the plan above) and into the main stairhall; the residence is a piano nobile design which cleverly aids the hilly topography - but we'll get into that later.

Symmetry and classical design reign on the exterior; a rather quiet facade gradually gives way to grandeur as one enters the residence.

Many of the light fixtures throughout were custom designed - the fluorescent light bulbs are really unfortunate but do not hurt the fundamental beauty of the lantern.

 Upon entering through french doors directly to one's left is a bust of the architect, Edwin Lutyens.

 Light pours into the lower level from windows above inviting one up. Further emphasizing this ascent are the walls which turn from heavy Indiana limestone to a lighter plaster.

 I loved the cascade of the lower risers which leads one to a short landing and the cloak rooms.

The most impressive detail of the space is the railing itself. Below is a sketch by Lutyens from early on in the design in 1925.

As you can see it didn't change much. This motif graces the endpapers of the new book on the embassy as well; The Architecture of Diplomacy.

 I love the furnished landings and I'll again point out the print gallery walls as well, installed in 2012.

Symmetry is key in the stair hall as throughout the residence. The interior window below to the right opens into an interior room: the morning room. Lutyens commonly designed such interior windows into his residential projects; supposedly so children could watch the festivities during parties!  A false mirrored window stands opposite the landing to attain this perfect symmetry.

 The placement of these ginger jars is perfection.

The ladies cloak room off the stairhall features Fornasetti's very stylish 'Teatro' wallpaper -manufactured by a very British company naturally, Cole & Son. I loved these lanterns which flanked the opening.

The entry to the public spaces of the residence feature ornate plaster-work as well as lovely urns on pedestals.

 A closeup of the plaster work reveals native flowers with classical figures.

Join me in following posts for more on the public spaces of the British Embassy.

The most beautiful stair in Washington: Lutyen's British Embassy

My favorite part of the tour of the British embassy was seeing the small private stair which leads from the public rooms to the private spaces of the residence; this is probably the most beautiful stair I've seen in DC.

 Lutyens took particular care with his staircases as he enjoyed the drama and panache they provide to any structure. Here he took a circular stair one step further by incorporating a circle into the iron handrail.

The floorplan above shows the location of the private stair (L). The circle made for a compact stair that could fit to the side of the public circulation.

The treads are limestone cantilevered (in parts) from the limestone walls. To provide a graceful ascent Lutyens designed many of his stairs with very short risers and long treads.

 Displayed in the stairwell is this colorful silk banner of the Royal Arms once owned by William  IV.

 A window on the 2nd floor allows natural light into the space.

A very regal portrait graces the top landing - Queen Victoria perhaps? I'll share a very different stair from the house shortly, the Grand staircase.
Floorplan from The Architecture of Diplomacy, The British Ambassador's Residence in Washington. Photographs are my own.