Court Zwolle, Zwolle, The Netherlands – architect: De Architekten Cie – project architect Rob Hootsmans – 2004-2013.
The design consists of a newly constructed building (16,420 m² gross floor area + a two-story underground car park) and renovation of the existing building (11,725 m² gross floor area). The new building will be located next to the existing building, and it will adjoin the historic canal of Zwolle at a crossroads of many directions and routes. The client and user found it important to give the expansion a transparent and accessible character, based on the statement "The Administration of Justice is at the centre of society, the Administration of Justice belongs to society". The design for the new building was created based on the demand for a new, timeless whole with a clear distinction between new and existing parts. In order to connect to the sculptural volume of architect Jo Kruger, a strong relationship with the surroundings had to be created: the contours of our design for the new building are determined from an urban planning point of view by directions and borders, heights and even the positions of trees.
The construction of the new building is characterized by a classic organization into three parts: a closed pedestal, a public part surrounded by columns and a cornice with a restricted working area. The public layer will consist of a double-height floor encircled by a public waiting area, hearing rooms, council chambers and a library. Finally, the upper layer will consist of three restricted floors with offices for the staff of the judiciary and the Public Prosecution Service. The construction principle, installation concept and the use of materials for the interior are determined for each layer according to its function. In contrast with the closed and inward-facing character of Kruger's building, the new building is highly transparent and emphasizes the public character of the court. For instance, the public waiting area is orientated towards the surroundings, and thus forms a part of the city. The facade of the new building will be made of glass. The facade is pulled around the building like a pleated skirt, thereby creating a crenulated structure. A fragmentary reflection of the surroundings can be seen in the facade. The "pleats" will vary in height, and their depth is derived from Kruger's natural stone facade, creating formal coherence with the existing structure.
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