Building Diplomacy: The Architecture of American Embassies
"The embassy buildings break down architecturally into different types: There is the adapted vernacular, exemplified by a dilapidated gray plaster building from 1980 in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Then there are sumptuous historic houses, like the Hotel de Talleyrand in Paris. A staple backdrop for cocktail parties in Cold War-era spy movies, this type reflects the shift of power to the United States: many of these buildings are former bastions of European supremacy, now controlled by the State Department."—Frances Anderton, New York Times, October 24, 2004"Travelers associating the words 'American embassy' only with lost passports and long lines are missing out. Judging from the 40-plus locations showcased in Building Diplomacy, travel guides might be advised to list America's foreign diplomatic centers under 'Things to See.' . . . For Lui, the project was more than a collection of architectural photographs. Her hope, she says, is that it will 'really appeal to the American people to build a constituency for cultural diplomacy.'"—Leslee Komaiko, Los Angeles Times, October 10, 2004"The history on display here shows architecutre as an expression of both art and politics. It also suggests some career direction: Anyone at the State Department feeling angst-ridden should, clearly, start angling to become deputy chief of mission in Madrid. Trust me."—Warren Bass, Washington Post Book World, December 19–25, 2004