An architectural meeting between Switzerland and Korea
The Swiss Embassy in Seoul elegantly illustrates the recent flourishing of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The building reinterprets the hanok—the traditional Korean wooden house built without nails or dowels—in a Swiss style. Designed in a horseshoe shape, the structure encircles an open-air courtyard and harmoniously connects the public chancellery, offices, and residential spaces. “The complex exudes incredible energy,” notes Ambassador Nadine Olivieri Lozano, who previously served in the Netherlands and Iran.
The building’s location was chosen so that visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of the greenery in Gyeonghuigung Park from the inner courtyard. The integration of a geothermal heating system and solar panels adds an ecological dimension characteristic of Swiss expertise. As the ambassador notes, diplomacy is based above all on trust and human connection: “Our goal is to provide a home base for Swiss citizens in South Korea, while creating a genuine space for exchange and dialogue for our South Korean friends.”
A vibrant tribute to the neighborhood’s past
While the site exudes tranquility today, its past was far more tumultuous. The Songwol-dong neighborhood was once a bustling area, before the government decided to demolish its dilapidated buildings in the 2010s to make way for glass skyscrapers. Inaugurated in 2019, the embassy was designed by the Swiss architecture firm Burckhardt as a tribute to the hanoks that once dotted the neighborhood.
The concrete walls, essential for security reasons, were cast to mimic the grain of wood. This creates a complex, Korean-inspired façade while evoking construction techniques seen in cities like Bern, Zurich, or Geneva. A feat that carries a certain irony, as lead architect Nicolas Vaucher notes: “Although this style is characteristic of Swiss buildings, it would be impossible to achieve back home due to its exorbitant cost. It’s a project we could only bring to life here.”
A Crossroads of Memory and Cultural Dialogue
Beyond its rich program of events covering business, literature, and design, this hanok-style building resonates deeply with the residents of Seoul. For the ambassador, this architecture respectfully honors the site’s history: “The building proves that progress and remembrance can coexist, an essential message in a metropolis in constant flux.”
Ambassador: Nadine Olivieri Lozano
Number of diplomats: 5
Start of official relations: February 11, 1963. The first Swiss embassy in Seoul opened its doors in 1969.
Key bilateral issues: The volume of trade between South Korea and Switzerland has more than doubled since the entry into force, in 2006, of the free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).