Modern Court of Justice Hasselt, Belgium

A court is a judicial body established at all the places to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and award fair justice according to the rule of law. Every city around the world comprises a judicial body to regulate law and order in the region.   Belgium is a state known for its amazing glass products and various other possessions like confectionaries. In addition, it's also known for the new court of justice located at the Flemish province city Hasselt.

The court has created a new image and name to the city by its flamboyant design. Based on a master plan by West 8, the former railway station site has been restructured with a park, public buildings, offices and hotels, as well as urban residential blocks. The teams of J. MAYER H. Architects, Lens Ass and A2o architecten have realized one of the two high-rise buildings, 'The New Court of Justice', and a structure that stands as a contemporary urban landmark of the new district. References in the design process points out to the image of the tree-the hazelnut trees in the City of Hasselt's coat of arms. It also resembles steel structures in the once industrial and Art Nouveau-influenced area. J MAYER H Architects talks exclusively about this to Built Expressions.

Twin History

The design concept was adapted from the hazel nut trees that were present around the region. The city of Hasselt is famous for the hazel nut trees and was named after it. "The urban master plan asked for two high point as iconic reference for this new part of the town. Hasselt has double elements that define the city as the two hazel nut trees in the city logo, the two medieval towers of the churches and the two high rises of the former town hall from the 1960s. The new master plan for the station area projects this 'Twin-History' into the future. One of the iconic high rises became the new Court of Justice that includes the students' library of about 20,000 m².

The program is flexible in terms of allowing different user groups to use the meeting rooms. Security logistics are an important organizational tool and the architectural quality of the building needs to be inviting and setting a standard for the developments around yet to come. References include the old steel structure formally defining this industrial site, organic art nouveaux steel structures as a cultural heritage of Belgium, and echoes of a tree as Hasselt logo and the historic place of speaking justice underneath a tree in the center of a dwelling. As part of two icon projects on the new urban development, the courthouse has a special role in the overall city fabric. The public building needs to be seen as a special piece of the city, celebrating braveness, curiosity, transparency and pride. It will become a place of orientation in the city. The dialog between the two icon towers of course will become crucial to build a city that refers to the past and projects into the future" says Ar. J. MAYER.

Kerto Wood Art

The core material used to raise this structure is concrete; columns were used to hold the structure.  Kerto wood is another important element used to form the facade of the structure. A double façade system was made using timber to make it sound proof as it is located closer to the railway terminal. The outer facade is filled using partly glass skin and perforated metal for protection from sun. 

Veins of Leaves

The idea of including real wood on the exterior walls to extend those materials with the façade is a symbolic to the interior. The wooden benches, for example, look like wooden branches that have fallen into the building. "We sometimes had to really fight to add accents that brought harmony to the whole. But the result is beautiful, when seeing the autumn colours of the interior and the motif of leaves in the material for the chairs. The floors remind one of a forest floor and perforated veins of leaves are also seen in the ceilings of the lifts. At the same time, the building also had to retain its abstraction and be modern" states Ar. J Mayer.

Public Friendly Court

The New Court of Justice is an open, transparent building with direct public access, combining the Court of Justice with a university library and auditoriums for the faculty of law. The structure is divided into three separate units: courtrooms, the library for students and an office tower with a 64 meters-high panorama restaurant on top from which offers a panoramic view of the city of Hasselt and its surroundings. The Courthouse is a complex organism where logistics and adjacencies are very important. The separation between public and restricted areas structures the entire building. On the other hand, a courthouse is an important part of a city where the public needs to be part of making decisions on the law.

All three architecture offices (J. MAYER H., A2o architecten, Lens°Ass) contribute with their knowledge and research to rethink this topology of a building for the 21^st century. The organization of various parts of a courthouse with multiple barriers of security is shown in the massing of three volumes that are interlinked. The tower becomes an iconic part of the skyline of Hasselt, and marks the entrance as a transition from the city park to the foyer. The building structure can be seen ambivalent between buildings, a mega structure, a reference to the neighboring park or a metaphor of the old Lind trees in the center of villages as the original place to speak justice underneath is covering leaves. There is not one definite description of the structure, the building remains open to interpretation and individual reading.

Transparent Structure

Apart from a judicial body providing justice to the people of Hasselt, this structure is also known for various other uses. The Hasselt Court of Justice is composed of various bodies in it, one is the University Library located in the middle section of the structure. This library consists of various books and journals for the students' reference purpose and to gain knowledge under one roof. Auditorium is another aspect of this structure which is been brought into the picture for the faculty of law for paper presentation purposes and for the students to understand the subject in a more sharpened system of learning methods. Another aspect is the office located on the upper level of the structure thereby making it a public space accessible for everyone. And above it there's also a presence of 64-meters-high panorama restaurant, which offers a panoramic view of the city of Hasselt and its surroundings. The building structure can be seen ambivalent between a building, a mega structure, a reference to the neighboring park or a metaphor of the old Lind trees in the center of villages as the original place to speak justice underneath’s is covering leaves. Moreover the presence of the Court next to the railway terminal adds more advantage in terms of easy accessible to transportation.

Perforated Aluminum Cassettes

The Court is located next to a railway terminal making it clamorous as the trains pass through that side. Therefore to make it complete sound proof a double layer façade was made to ensure smooth proceedings of the court and interior 'second skin' 1m in from the exterior which acts as insulation. The façade is designed in such a way that it doesn’t permit the sound waves to penetrate into the building. The exterior design as made in the form veins of the leaf, resembling the hazel nut trees of Hasselt. The color of the structure was also made using the same concept of the hazel nut trees. The design of the courthouse is made with a view to a sustainable use of energy. It is constructed with a double exterior wall with the inside being implemented completely in glass. The outer cladding with the tree structure in wood is partially implemented in glass and partially in perforated aluminum cassettes. Thus provision is made for the required transparency and good thermal comfort on the inside. Current architectural creativity knows no bounds. Simple bare cassette exterior walls in aluminum or steel can, thanks to modern laser and 'Stans' technology, be transformed into brilliant achievements in design. Efficiency is combined with modern design by the creativity of the architect and with respect for modern construction requirements.

In terms of design the Hasselt Court of Justice is truly an amazing structure, resembling the hazel nut trees of the city. This structure will solitary uphold the name and respect for justice and also safeguard the culture of the city. The team of architects have performed an excellent work by designing the structure in the form of the tree and provided the same color complexion of the hazel nut tree too. None of the courts around the world have such unique features in it except this one as it is a multipurpose structure and easily accessible to public. Thus the structure as created a fresh iconic name among the judicial bodies and to the city of Hasselt. 

Box item: Fact Sheet

• Architects: J. MAYER H. Architects , a2o-architecten & Lensºass architecten
• Photography: Filip Dujardin , Philippe van Gelooven, Bieke Claessens
• Construction: T.H.V. Hasaletum nv (Democo nv - Cordeel nv - Interbuild nv)
• Square Footage: 20.763 m² above-ground spaces (Offices, Meeting - Rooms, Library, Reception, Cafeteria, Court rooms) 4.694 m² Underground spaces (Archive), 3.384 m² Underground spaces Parking Lot
• Structural Engineering: M. & A. Van Wetter BVBA
• Technical Engineering: Eurostation NV
• Controlling and Fire Protection: Seco CV
• Construction Surveying: Eurostation  + Regie der Gebouwen + Lens°ass
• Software used: ArchiCad
• Preliminary Building Works: Interbuild
• Facade: Democo NV
• Metal Construction: Cordeel
• Function: Courthouse including  Offices
• Site area: 3640 Sqm
• Building area: 3200 Sqm
• Total floor area: 21600 Sqm
• Stories: 13, Max. Height: 60 m