‘Hall of Justice’: Architecture Competition seeks ideas and projects District courthouse to assist local judiciary held by UNI
Society and civic institutions
The political persona of a society is reflected by the public buildings, and they become an important impression of its people. They have the capability to express the hopes, dreams, and goals of their people.
With time, there is a perceivable gap between the people and their civic institutions. There is cynicism about government, politics, and policies among citizens. This complex dynamic has rendered the public buildings as pain points for the community.
Civic buildings are built to serve the public. The construction of these institutions is done with the tax money, contributed by all citizens. They are built to ideally be approachable and accessible to every faction of society, from the rich to the poorest of citizens.
But these ideas of the government are often fogged by the complex play of politics. Government existence and strength are derived from the power it is given by the public. Even so, people are the ones who get undermined in this system, once authority takes control.
Need for inclusivity and transparency
Inconsistency in actions taken by civic entities has generated distrust among people. They are dismayed by the incompetence of government efforts, on the other hand, having high expectations with regards to its ability to safeguard their needs. This turmoil has caused people to constantly be at odds with the government, creating a rift between them.
Public buildings are seen as stubborn symbols of the power of government over its people. Despite occupying central locations in most cities, the spaces are physically disconnected from the public realm. The design of these structures is solid and reserved, making it seem closed-off to citizens. There is a lack of transparency from the administration’s side.
The discontentment for the government leads to social unrest and economic instability. Public buildings are common bases that can lead to the start of a renewed and open political bond.
How can civic structures reconnect people to their government?
Brief of the Competition
Courthouses are part of this political fabric that has served as a center of the law and government throughout history. Their role is more than being an icon of power, but rather in being a space that is of service to its people.
Brief: The challenge is to design a courthouse that represents qualities of a good democracy, for, of, and by its people.
A civic structure is extremely context-dependent and the design must reflect its connection with the region it is placed in. The courthouse as a typology is daunting due to its tense ambiance and functional qualities of the judiciary. But levity can be added to design with social spaces and greenery. Privacy and permeability must be guided consciously.
The intended aim of the design is to establish a healthy connection between the judicial system and public life. Functional aspects and the purpose of the courthouse must be uninhibited in any design. Security measures need to be incorporated in the design since the place will serve judges, convicts, jurors, victims, and law-abiding citizens.
Design Objectives
•Concept — Courthouse must make law and justice accessible to every individual. People who serve, and people who are being served, their daily lives in these spaces need to be designed.
•Accessible — The structure must be designed barrier-free so that every citizen can enter. The access points must be allocated, programmatically.
•Form + Space — The structure must have some openness and transparency so that it remains connected to the outside, public realm of the city. Design must be welcoming to the public.
•Landmark — The courthouse will become the icon of pride of the local community.
•Context — The design must respond to the (existing) site conditions. The wider socio-cultural, economic, and environmental settings are to be considered in the design approach.
Site
Washington State has a thriving economy and is known for its wealth and high-quality life. Olympia is the state capital with lush greenery and rich culture. This small town is charmed with pleasant weather and local communities live in vibrant, art inclined neighborhoods.
The courthouse is to be built in the City of Olympia, Washington, United States. The site is located on Harrison West Street at Harrison Ave NW and Kaiser Road. There is a gradual slope to the site, good access between buildings within a campus setting, and it is several feet above sea level.
Thurston County aims to modernize the civic center facilities, consolidate services in a customer-first manner, invoke civic pride in our community, and provide opportunities for economic revitalization to the area.
•Site area = 4002 sq.m
•Height restriction = 10 metres
•Maximum Builtup Area = 4002 sq.m
•Ground coverage = 30%
•Setbacks (as per CAD plan)
•Coordinates = 47°02'48.2"N 122°57'33.5"W
Area Programme
Courthouses are used by a variety of people: judges, attorneys, witnesses, victims, prisoners, and clerks, other employees, outside social agencies, the press, and the general public.
The following programmatic outline is the point to begin your design at. The number of rooms per activity must be designated by the participant. You can also add more functions and activities in relevance or modify the given design program. (Refer Guide)
•Attorney Lounge ~ 50 sq.m
•Prosecuting Attorney’s Office ~ 30 sq.m, Assistant office ~ 15 sq.m
•Public Defender’s Office ~ 15 sq.m
•Victim-Witness Waiting Room ~ 30 sq.m, Clerk’s Office ~ 30 sq.m
•Conference room, law library, interview rooms, storage, and break areas
•Courtrooms ~ 220– 890 sq.m (select size as per site locale and demographic)
•Small meeting rooms ~ 60 sq.m each
•Judges’ Chambers ~ 50 sq.m
•General Court Support, Court Administration offices ~ 60–100 sq.m
•Probation, Parole, Pre-trial and Community Services (offices and waiting rooms) ~ 100 sq.m
•Lobby, Secure Parking, Building Management, and Support
•Prisoner Handling and Circulation
Each functional space has unique requirements that must be addressed during the planning stages of courthouse construction.
Originally published at https://uni.xyz.
