CHANCERIESTHE DIPLOMATIC ATLAS

Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden

Diplomatic history and full roster

Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden

2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

Light stone, glass and wood-grain balcony screens face the Potomac at House of Sweden. Opened in 2006, the building combines the embassy with public event spaces and apartments; the ambassador’s residence moved here in 2021.

FactValueBasis and sources
Constructed2004–2006verified
  1. www.sfv.se
First diplomatic use2006verified Embassy staff moved in during August; inauguration followed on 23 October. Acquisition is a separate event.
  1. www.sfv.se
  2. www.swedenabroad.se
NeighborhoodGeorgetownverified
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
  2. www.swedenabroad.se
ArchitectGert Wingårdh and Tomas Hansenverified John Jessen / VOA Associates: architect of record.
  1. jessenarchitects.com
  2. www.sfv.se
Rooms65–155 est.estimated; Planning estimate: rooms = building area × room-area fraction ÷ average room size. For this mixed office, residential and public property, assume 45%–65% of the recorded 81,000 sq ft is enclosed usable room area, with an average 350–550 sq ft per room. The range combines the low fraction with the larger room size and the high fraction with the smaller size, rounded outward to five rooms. Room allocation and average size are assumptions. Covers the recorded building area; the interior has not been independently measured. Estimated room range.
  1. jessenarchitects.com
Floor area81,000 sq ftverified Whole mixed-use architectural project; not embassy office only.
  1. jessenarchitects.com
Site area20,300 sq ftverified LANDAREA is 20,251 sq ft for parcel 1171/0814. The two possessory interests report no additional land; the neighboring federal parcel is excluded.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
2026 Value$30.3 Mverified Three distinct assessments: $9,520,270 + $17,941,480 + $2,821,240. Tax assessment.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
Acquired by Sweden2007verified DC records give 8 June 2007 for acquisition of the recorded interest. SFV dates the initial lease agreement to 2002; embassy occupation began in 2006.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
  2. www.sfv.se

Complete property record

Historic Moments

A treaty of friendship

1783-04-03

Benjamin Franklin and Gustaf Philip Creutz conclude a Treaty of Amity and Commerce in Paris. Sweden recognizes the United States through the agreement; ratifications are exchanged the following year. The treaty precedes the resident Washington mission by three decades.

Ericsson’s Monitor

1862-03-09

Swedish born engineer John Ericsson designs the Union ironclad USS Monitor. Its encounter with CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads marks a turning point in naval warfare. This Swedish American contribution belongs to the history of engineering and migration, rather than a diplomatic alliance.

Remembering New Sweden

1938-06-27

Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates Fort Christina Park and Carl Milles’s monument in Wilmington. Sweden’s gift marks the 300th anniversary of the Swedish and Finnish settlement, with Crown Princess Louise and Prince Bertil among the guests. The ceremony celebrates an enduring cultural connection.

A Christmas diplomatic chill

1972-12-23

Olof Palme condemns the U.S. bombing of Hanoi in a Christmas statement. Washington delays the arrival of Sweden’s newly appointed ambassador, Yngve Möller, who never takes office. Chargé Leif Leifland subsequently leads the mission; formal diplomatic relations remain intact.

A house on the Potomac

2006-10-23

House of Sweden is formally inaugurated after embassy staff move in that August. Gert Wingårdh and Tomas Hansen’s building makes room for diplomacy, public exhibitions, and cultural gatherings on the Georgetown waterfront, with pale stone and illuminated glass bands.

Sweden joins NATO

2024-03-07

Sweden deposits its instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the United States government in Washington, becoming the Alliance’s 32nd member. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson participates in the handover; a separate flag-raising follows at NATO headquarters in Brussels on 11 March.

Chiefs of Mission

DiplomatOfficeRecorded serviceStatus
Johan Albert KantzowMinister1813–1819Former
Berndt Robert Gustaf StackelbergChargé d’affaires1819–1832Former
David Gustaf AnckarlooChargé d’affaires1831–1833Former
Severin LorichChargé d’affaires1834–1837Former
Gustaf af NordinChargé d’affaires1838–1845Former
Adam Christopher LövenskiöldChargé d’affaires1845–1850Former
Georg SibbernChargé d’affaires1850–1854Former
Georg SibbernMinister1854–1858Former
Wilhelm af WetterstedtMinister1858–1860Former
Carl Edward Vilhelm PiperMinister1861–1864Former
Wilhelm af WetterstedtMinister1864–1870Former
Oluf StenersenEnvoy1870–1875Former
Carl LewenhauptEnvoy1876–1884Former
Gustaf Leonard ReuterskiöldEnvoy1884–1888Former
Johan Anton Wolff GripEnvoy1889–1906Former
Herman LagercrantzEnvoy1907–1907Former
Herman LagercrantzEnvoy1907–1910Former
Albert EhrensvärdEnvoy1910–1911Former
August EkengrenEnvoy1912–1920Former
Claës BondeChargé d’affaires1913–1913Former
Axel WallenbergEnvoy1921–1925Former
Wollmar BoströmEnvoy1925–1945Former
Herman ErikssonEnvoy1945–1947Former
Herman ErikssonAmbassador1947–1948Former
Alexis AminoffChargé d’affairesDocumented 21 April 1948Former
Erik BohemanAmbassador1948–1958Former
Gunnar JarringAmbassador1958–1964Former
Hubert de BèscheAmbassador1964–1973Former
Yngve MöllerAmbassador1972, never assumed officeDesignate
Leif LeiflandChargé d’affaires1973–1974Former
Wilhelm WachtmeisterAmbassador1974–1989Former
Anders ThunborgAmbassador1989–1993Former
Henrik LiljegrenAmbassador1993–1997Former
Rolf EkéusAmbassador1997–2000Former
Jan EliassonAmbassador2000–2005Former
Gunnar LundAmbassador2005–2007Former
Jonas HafströmAmbassador2007–2013Former
Björn LyrvallAmbassador2013–2017Former
Karin OlofsdotterAmbassador2017–2023Former
Urban AhlinAmbassador2023–2026Former
Nicola ClaseAmbassador2026–presentCurrent