WINCHESTER architects have designed a new £4m embassy for British staff in the Middle East.

Design Engine, based in St Clement Street, landed the contract through a competition.

Their brief was to draw up plans for a new embassy in Sana'a, capital of the Republic of Yemen.

The practice put forward plans for a secure and environmentally friendly building.

The structure has concrete walls reinforced with steel to repel bomb and rocket attacks. Its "green" features include using rainwater to flush toilets, and water from sinks to grow plants in the terraced garden. Work began on the building in March 2005 and finished just over a month ago.

The original embassy was deemed inadequate in 2000.

The point was underlined by terrorist bombings in 2003 outside the British Consulate-General in Istanbul and HSBC bank offices nearby. The blasts killed 32 and injured hundreds.

Six firms submitted plans for the new embassy in Sana'a.

Rod Graham, a director at Design Engine, said: "Most people associate jobs like this with London practices.

"We're now hoping to pick up some more instructions on the back of this."

Foreign office minister Kim Howells, who opened the embassy, said: "It represents the best of British design excellence."

Ambassador Michael Gifford added: "We are very proud of our new embassy. Not only will it enable our British and Yemeni staff to work in a secure and modern building, which is something we have been lacking for some time, but it will also enable us to offer better services to the public."

Design Engine have also worked on a Polish theatre and a tourism office in Singapore.