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Schmidt Hammer Lassen / Bosch & Fjord, Århus,Denmark

Perspective

Explanation of the Architect

“Riding west on the alley of van Alkemadelaan past the Bronovo Hospital and the low apartment buildings, you will see the landscape suddenly open up and give way to all, luminescent, sculptural composition of square towers. It emerges on a backdrop of remarkable rolling dunes and scenery of heath, and dry and wet grasslands. If you were looking for the new International Criminal Court (ICC), you have found it”.

Opinion of the Jury

The design provides the ICC, as mentioned above, with a 'sculptural composition of square towers'. The Jury quoted this approach as a very impressive and interesting architectural gesture and a great contribution to the city with an attractive integration into the landscape. This applies also for the idea of 'moving down' to the Court through the spacious stairs.

The two main entrances, the big and sharp incision in the landscape and the lower ground floor are considered as very interesting elements. The inner atmosphere was confirmed as user-friendly, especially the spacious ground floor with beautiful daylight from above. This ground floor can be seen as an inner private park area which facilitates the interaction between all the ICC employees in a very pleasant and positive way.

The dark volume of the stacked courtrooms allows different connotations. The final choice of the materials and the transparency of the facades should clarify this.

The chosen typology shows up very well the different areas of the prosecutors, the judges, the registrars and the courtrooms. Although the proposed facade material puts all the blocks together in a very special and bright way.