Britain's overseas diplomatic buildings - embassies, consulates, high commissions - come in all shapes and sizes, styles and ages. They all share one purpose - to support Britain's diplomatic
efforts. The buildings are the passive partners of their active diplomatic occupants. Whether as flagship, theatre of operations, or refuge, a building gives its diplomats the stage on which to perform their roles - their Room for Diplomacy. This book is the first to piece together the story of why these buildings were required, how and when they were procured, and who made them happen. Though the buildings are very different, the way that they were provided by one
government department for another was remarkably constant. So were the clashes between impatient diplomats in distant countries with short-term requirements and cautious providers in London with long-term views about value. In many ways, a two century saga of competing outlooks.
Britain's overseas diplomatic buildings - embassies, consulates, high commissions - come in all shapes and sizes, styles and ages. They all share one purpose - to support Britain's diplomatic
efforts. The buildings are the passive partners of their active diplomatic occupants. Whether as flagship, theatre of operations, or refuge, a building gives its diplomats the stage on which to perform their roles - their Room for Diplomacy. This book is the first to piece together the story of why these buildings were required, how and when they were procured, and who made them happen. Though the buildings are very different, the way that they were provided by one
government department for another was remarkably constant. So were the clashes between impatient diplomats in distant countries with short-term requirements and cautious providers in London with long-term views about value. In many ways, a two century saga of competing outlooks.
Gavin Stamp, Country Life This is a book we have long been waiting for. The UK has an astonishing variety of buildings inforeign and Commonwealth countries ... but it has always been difficult to find out anythingabout them - until now.Charles de Chassiron, Asian Affairs ... a thorough and well-written survey of the design, acquisition, management and equipping ofBritain's diplomatic properties ... and Mark Bertram is certainly the man best placed to write it.Marcus Binney, The Times ... a carefully documented history which shows that budgets were far from lavish.Kay Hughes, Building Design The author is exceptionally modest about his own achievements, but he cultured a highlyeffective department and team of estate professionals ...Paul Finch, Architects Journal The scant documentation, and even scantier attempts by scholars to write about
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