Examining the Effects of Urban Planning Practices of Embassy Buildings onto Public Spaces

Abstract

Past urban planning practices for embassy buildings have largely been indifferent to environments and the context of cities, oftentimes causing negative effects on the urban matrix. Implementing a more open, transparent building process for its diplomatic outposts overseas, Japan has managed to contribute to overall city development, quality of its public spaces and the image it holds in host countries. These processes will be examined and findings elaborated for the new Japanese embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, how utilizing such methodology presents an improvement, in engineering and urban planning terms, as well as a new method of cultural sustainability.