New U.S. embassy looks like something out of 'Star Trek' and it has a moat

2025-04-27 19:02:32admin

Crazily expensive, incredibly secure, and visually stunning.

SEE ALSO: UK's Russian Embassy confirms that they reside on the Dark Side

These are the first things that spring to mind when you see a medieval castle.

Tweet may have been deleted

And those are also the main concepts behind the new U.S. embassy in London, a de factourban fortress on the River Thames, in the newly-developed Nine Elms district, whose interiors were just revealed for the first time.

The £750 million (more than $1 billion), 12-story glass cube is designed by Philadelphia-based architect James Timberlake who in 2010 said he was inspired by European castles.

Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Credit: Alastair Grant/AP/REX/Shutterstock

The idea was to avoid walls and fences and use the landscape instead as a natural defence against potential terror attacks. For this purpose, the embassy is set back from the street behind a 100ft "seclusion zone" and has its own, 30m-by-150m, half-moon shaped "moat" around one side.

Yes, a medieval castle-style moat.

Credit: Alastair Grant/AP/REX/Shutterstock

The 518,000 sq ft building has 6-inch triple-glazed and blast-proof glass walls, raised terraces, and sunken trenches, according to The Times. It even features a Faraday cage to prevent electronic eavesdropping.

Tweet may have been deleted

Sitting on a hill, just like a castle, the area will have natural features (waterfall, tall grass, hedges) hiding defensive walls, CBS News reports.

The embassy will open on 16 January, and will have about 1,000 visitors a day, but President Donald Trump is expected to inaugurate it in spring.