Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
click image to enlarge - photo by schmidt hammer lassen architects
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Project Details:
Client: The International Criminal Court
Area: 46,000 m2 with up to 1,200 work stations
Construction sum: € 190 million ex. VAT
Competition: 2008-2010 restricted international competition
Status: Won, construction 2012-2015
Engineer: Royal Haskoning Nederland B.V. – Esbensen Consulting Engineers
Interior Design and Art: Bosch & Fjord in collaboration with schmidt hammer lassen architects
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“When designing the new permanent premises of the International Criminal Court, the point of departure was to communicate trust, hope and – most importantly – faith in justice and fairness. The building should have the courage to be an ambassador for the credibility of the ICC. The project and its architecture should be impressive and grandiose but should always relate to humans and the human scale. It is important that a formal institution like the ICC does not constitute barriers for people. On the contrary, it must express the very essence of democratic architecture.
click image to enlarge - photo by schmidt hammer lassen architects
click image to enlarge - photo by schmidt hammer lassen architects
Located close to the North Sea the site is placed between the nature and the city. Connecting the dune landscape with the edge of the city has a striking potential. By designing a compact building with a small footprint, the landscape is returned to the city so that the open spaces, the sky and the horizon become an integrated part of the architectural composition.
Through the lightness and simplicity in the architectural design, the values of ‘openness’ and ‘transparency’ are communicated. The building is designed as a sculptural abstraction, – a composition of 6 volumes, firmly anchored to the site and rising from the surrounding dune landscape.
click image to enlarge - photo by schmidt hammer lassen architects.
click image to enlarge - photo by schmidt hammer lassen architects.
click image to enlarge - photo by schmidt hammer lassen architects.
The tallest of the volumes is the Court Tower that rises up as a green element. The architectural idea is to continue the cultivated parterre gardens from the ground floor level, as a cladding on the Court Tower. Historically, gardens have always existed as part of all cultures and all religions. With flowers and plants from each of the 110 member countries, the parterre garden rises up as a symbol of unity, regardless of nationality and culture. The remaining volumes, the office towers, are draped in a tapestry grid, almost like embroidery. The office façade grid is designed with angle and cut-outs, which allows the light to reflect differently in an almost playful way.
click image to enlarge - photo by schmidt hammer lassen architects.
click image to enlarge - photo by schmidt hammer lassen architects.
The overall architectural expression becomes an abstract and informal sculpture – a backdrop for communicating the values of the ICC.”
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