Designs for the new US embassy in London have been unveiled.

The US Department of State has announced that Philadelphia-based architectural firm KieranTimberlake will build the new US$1 billion US embassy in London’s Battersea – the most expensive high-security embassy built by the US.

Complete with a moat for added security, the new crystalline cube-shaped embassy will be built within the surroundings of an urban park, with a pond, walks and places to sit all readily available to the public. Gardens will also be constructed within the embassy building.

The building will replace the current US embassy, in London’s Grosvenor Square, which had, according to the Daily Telegraph, been described as “showing signs of wear and tear” and whose stringent security measures were disliked by its Mayfair neighbours.

KieranTimberlake won the year-long design competition, beating off 37 architectural submissions to design an embassy that resolves “what an embassy aspires to be and what present realities dictate it must do”.

According to the US Department of State: “KieranTimberlake’s design met the goal of creating a modern, welcoming, timeless, safe and energy efficient embassy for the 21st century. Their concept most fully satisfied the requirements outlined in the design competition’s mission statement.

“The concept holds the greatest potential for developing a truly iconic embassy and is on the leading edge of sustainable design.”

KieranTimberlake is an award-winning architectural firm founded in Philadelphia in 1984 by Stephen Kieran and James Timberlake.

Construction aims to be completed in 2017.