SUPREME COURT OF THE NEDERLANDS / THE HAGUE / KAAN ARCHITECTEN

The Supreme Court in The Hague stands firm on an earthy stone base giving rise to a crystalline superstructure. The entrance hall appears to be hewn from a huge block of stone. Large glazing units are placed against this base that is emphasizing the full length of Korte Voorhout and its scenic roof of trees. Visible in the foyer area are large enclosures: the courtrooms, a small and a principal chambers.

 

The entrance hall also serves accessibility and practical comforts. Bands of glass supported by intermittent polished metal columns stretch upwards, cladding the upper storey offices. Inside, the plinth and superstructure are separate entities. The upper storeys merge spatially through interconnected open spaces.

 

The offices are separated and have their own identity, while the cluster in between housing the Supreme Court President and Attorney-General also offers space for the indispensable library and restaurant. The building blends sober functionalism with profound dignity; the practical and the majestic are commensurate.

 

Project name: Supreme Court of the Netherlands

Location: The Hague, The Netherlands

Program: offices and courtrooms for the Supreme Court of The Netherlands

Design: 2012

Completion: end of 2015

GFA: 15.000 sqm + 2.300 sqm (parking)

Client: Government Building Agency

 

Project management: BAM PPP, Bunnik (nl)

Main contractor: BAM Utiliteitsbouw – Grote Projecten, Bunnik (nl)

HVAC: BAM Techniek – Grote Projecten, Bunnik (nl)

Construction and installation advisor: ARUP Nederland, Amsterdam (nl)

Facility management: ISS, De Meern (nl)

Sustainability, security, acoustics and fire advisor: DGMR, Arnhem (nl)

Project Team: Allard Assies, Luca Baialardo, Christophe Banderier, Bas Barendse, Timo Cardol, Sebastian van Damme, Marten Dashorst, Luuk Dietz, Willemijn van Donselaar, Paolo Faleschini, Raluca Firicel, Michael Geensen, Cristina Gonzalo Cuairán, Joost Harteveld, Walter Hoogerwerf, Michiel van der Horst, Marlon Jonkers, Kees Kaan, Jan Teunis ten Kate, Marco Lanna, Giuseppe Mazzaglia, Vincent Panhuysen, Ana Rivero, Dikkie Scipio, Joeri Spijkers, Koen van Tienen, Noëmi Vos

Description text by Ruud Brouwers