The Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan is a classically elegant mix of East and West with an long history and detailed design

By Ernesto M. Santalla AIA, LEED AP
Photos by Piers Lamb

The exterior of the Uzbekistan Embassy. (Photo by Piers Lamb)

Before well-known local banker and horseman Clarence Moore died tragically in thesinking of the Titanic in 1912, he had Jules Henri de Sibour, an Ecole des Beaux Arts trained architect and a descendant of King Louis XVI of France, design a stately mansion for him at 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW. After it’s completion in 1909, Moore and his wife Mabelle lived there until Clarence’s untimely death. Mabelle Moore remained in possession of the house until 1927, when it was sold to the Canadian government.

During it’s storied past, this historic Northwest Washington mansion was titled by a Revolutionary war general, built as a summer retreat for the National Geographic Society’s founder, and later made into the epicenter of U.S.-Taiwanese relations – SHIN-WEN KUO recants Twin Oaks’ colorful saga.

Photography Gary Landsman

The Chinese have a concept called yuan fen – roughly translated it means “destiny” or “fate.” Stronger than coincidence, it often refers to a meeting, a relationship, or a situation that is meant to be long before it’s foreseen. So it is fitting that one of Dr. Jaushieh Joseph Wu’s – Taiwan’s Representative to the U.S. – favorite personal anecdotes about Twin Oaks involves a bit of yuan fen.
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Ambassador Ryozo Kato has served for six years overseeing strengthening bi-lateral ties while enjoying the splendor of Japan’s traditional-meets-modern Ambassador’s residence.

By Michael M. Clements
Photography Gary Landsman

A long hallway in classic Japanese style, which connects the main house with the tea house.

It’s a snowy December evening and a black-tie crowd of Japanese businessmen, embassy staff, U.S. Foreign Service alumni, and influential Japanese-Americans are congenially milling about the Four Seasons Hotel ballroom. They have gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Japan America Society of Washington, D.C.

After several rounds of loud woodblock clops (in lieu of Washington’s de rigueur bell chime) and some brisk tableside business card exchanges, guests settle into their seats. Former Vice President Walter Mondale, who served as ambassador to Japan during the Clinton era, speaks first. He begins with a joke and finishes with fond recollections of his time in Japan. Former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta follows with an equally polished and respectful speech. The evening stays true to form, format, and formality … until Ambassador Ryozo Kato, Japan’s longest serving post-World War II ambassador to the U.S., takes the podium.

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The French embassy residence has been a fixture of the Washington diplomatic and social scene for generation-upon-generation of ambassador. It’s newest occupant, Pierre Vimont, comes with a mandate to steer Franco-American relations through the new dawn of a burgeoning yet delicate liaison.

By Leah Pisar
Photography  Gary Landsman

Pierre Vimont had scarcely been named Ambassador to Washington when word came in that France’s newly elected President, Nicolas Sarkozy, was heading to the unlikely location of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire for an August holiday. Rekindling relations with the White House in the wake of the Iraq war was high on Sarkozy’s agenda when he met with President Bush at nearby Kennebunkport over hamburgers and blueberry pie. That informal visit and Mr. Vimont’s assignment to Washington are harbingers of a new era in transatlantic cooperation.

“I am arriving at a moment when Franco-American relations are particularly interesting,” says Vimont – the elegant, soft-spoken and seasoned Parisian diplomat, who moved into the lavish residence on Kalorama Road in early September. “President Sarkozy’s recent declarations call for relaxing the relationship; my role is to translate this will into action.”

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Russian Ambassador Yuri Ushakov and his wife Svetlana continue the Russian tradition of summer escapes and family bonding on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

By Deborah K. Dietsch
Photography Gary Landsman

"A dacha is not just about entertaining," Ushakova says. "It's about uniting people in a very spiritual way, because you are in nature."

Russians cherish the dacha, a word meaning summer house or cottage. During summers and weekends, millions of them leave the stress of congested city life for the solace of a cabin or house in the countryside. “It’s a Russian tradition,” explains Yuri Ushakov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation. “You will find Moscow empty on Saturdays and Sundays, even in winter. A dacha is a good place to spend time outdoors with family and friends.”

Since arriving in Washington eight years ago, the Russian ambassador and his wife Svetlana Ushakova have kept up this tradition on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. They spend nearly every weekend and longer stretches during the summer at the embassy’s three-story brick dacha fronting the Chester River. While the 1920s Georgian-style house doesn’t exactly look Russian, it offers the couple the same pleasures as their dacha outside of Moscow – spending time with their 10-year-old grandson Misha, grilling shashlik (Russian shish kebob), with friends, or relaxing in the bania, Russian for steam room.

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Three years and 20 million dollars later, a fabled residence reopens.

By Gail Scott
Photography Gary Landsman

The turquoise and yellow drawing room is now light and airy with silk and linen calm-yellow sheer drapery that let sunlight flood the room. The light also highlights the exquisite antique Serves vase collection - a main reason why turquoise has become "the new neutral" for the mansion. Note also the Ambassador's antique silver collection crafted by Turkish silversmiths in Istanbul.

These are magical times for Turkish Ambassador Nabi Sensoy and his new wife and longtime friend, Gülgün. A new marriage and a totally refurbished and remodeled residence is ready after more than three years of major architectural restoration and extensive rehabilitation by well-known Washington restoration architect Belinda Reeder and noted embassy interior designer Aniko Gaal Schott.

“We thought we were moving in as early as last August,” said Ambassador Sensoy who, with his new bride, has been living out of packing boxes for some weeks. “But this work of great architectural beauty, one of the historic landmarks of Embassy Row,” jumped in petite Gülgün, “is also a very precious residence now, really a work of art … it’s a great responsibility for us to make use of this historic property in the best way possible for Turkey.”

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The New House of Sweden finally glows on Washington’s waterfront and Sweden’s King & Queen are about to arrive – no wonder Swedish Ambassador Gunnar Lund and his wife Kari Lotsberg are smiling.

By Gail Scott
Photography Gary Landsman

Entrance of House of Sweden glows in the light of dusk.

The new House of Sweden, the first foreign embassy to ever be built on the Washington waterfront, is finally open. And to add to the romance, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf Philip and Queen Silvia are about to arrive to officially inaugurate this handsome, long glass building that glows in the dark.

But the story if House of Sweden is also a love story about two people from two different countries who have created a family, two impressive careers and a happy marriage despite the never-ending demands of diplomacy, government and politics and constant complications of living on different continents. Perhaps you already have met them, Swedish Ambassador Gunnar Lund and Kari Lotsberg, his wife ? Norwegian by birth, Swedish by passport and a dedicated mother and well-known economist.

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It’s a beautiful April afternoon, and Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta has just pulled into the driveway of Villa Firenze in a gleaming yellow 2006 Maserati. Noticing the small crowd gathered in his front entryway, he smiles and beckons with his hand, “Isn’t this a beautiful machine?” he asks, with the mischief and sophistication of an Italian James Bond, “Who wants to go for a ride?” Minutes later, the Ambassador and the Maserati deliver one delighted journalist back to the residence. “What a special car,” he beams.

By Christina Wilkie
Photography Gary Landsman

Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta and his wife, Lila, stroll up their driveway.

Ambassador Castellaneta and his wife, Lila, arrived in Washington last fall, but clearly the couple is already “a casa” in the iconic diplomatic residence, Villa Firenze. Purchased from Polly Guggenheim. In 1976, the Tudor manor has become an enduring symbol of Italy in Washington.

Equally as enchanting as the main house are Villa Firenze’s formal gardens, which encompass over 17 acres of lawns and woodlands in the heart of Cleveland Park. “It’s fantastic!” raves Lila, striking in a white Yves Saint Laurent suit as she seats herself on the terrace overlooking the rolling south lawn. “Where we live is a paradise … we’re in the center of a city, but we have the most beautiful garden, and so many trees that you can’t see anyone else, so it’s perfect.

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Ambassador of Colombia Andes Pastrana and his wife Nohra Pastrana settle into diplomatic lief as well as their historic home.

By Christina Wilkie
Photography Gary Landsman
Styled by Barbara McConaghy

His Excellency, Andrés Pastrana, Ambassador of Colombia to the United States with his wife Nohra Pastrana.

Since October of 2005, the historic Thomas F. Gaff House on 20th Street has been the home of an historic “first” couple in the Washington diplomatic corps; the former president and first lady of Colombia, now Ambassador and Mrs. Andres Pastrana. The architects of the house, Bruce Price and Jules Henri de Sibour set out to create an American rendition of an early 17th century manor house, and the finished product marries grand Victorian proportions with an abundance of light and open spaces. Recently, Ambassador and Mrs. Pastrana invited WL into their exceptional home, and spoke candidly about public service, life in Washington, and the future of the US Latin American relationship.

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