INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT, NETHERLANDS, THE HAGUE, 2008
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| A workshop for justice |
By OMA © All rights reserved
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Even twenty years ago our belief in institutions was sufficiently robust to express them in single emblematic structures (shapes): the UN secretary, the EU headquarters in Brussels… Since then, a pervasive skepticism towards bureaucracy has made these confident representations dubious. Before we grant our confidence, we want to know what actually happens in these huge build masses. Our most fundamental question is how the International Criminal Court represent itself in the best possible way through its built representation? Up to 70 percent of the program for the ICC consists of offices. Quantitatively they dominate the core activity of the ICC: to judge crimes against humanity (and genocide) and to been seen to do so. If it would reflect an international standard in corporate building of offices, this would not reveal the importance of such a prominent institute. The building is neither an office building nor an international parliament. It should be a 'Workshop for justice'. more.. |
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Although there is simply no architectonical antecedent for such a global body of maximum integrity, it is hard to envisage a clear conceptual typology without references to specific cultural expression of a certain national or geographical identity. A mere iconic building would not validate the sensitive and complex nature of the ICC. We have designed a building, sufficiently characterful to be considered original, yet, at the same time open to very different perceptions and interpretations. It is a hybrid of extravert transparency and confidentiality, implying a more introvert character; a hybrid of flexibility versus persistence (determination).
Instead of proposing a single memorable shape, our project consists of a visible core – a delicate stack of courtrooms – loosely wrapped in a single band of offices. In this way, ICC's core mission is always exposed (visible) to the public, while the beauties of site and view are offered to all the major actors in ICC's complex process. The looseness of the wrapping defines a larger courtyard adjacent to the core which organizes access to the various parties (flows). By changing direction and extending away from the center, the office bands explore the qualities of the site and at the same time offer degrees of autonomy and recognition for the three major components: the Office of the Prosecutor, the Judiciary and the Administrative Registry, most entwined with the core. |
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FACT SHEET
Status: Competition 2008 Client: International Criminal Court - ICC Location: The Hague, Netherlands Site: Plot between the dunes and Van Alkemadelaan Program: Area 73.000 m2; Gross Floor Space 46.600 m2
CREDITS
Partners in charge: Rem Koolhaas Associate: Marc Paulin Project management: David Gianotten Team: Mark Balzar, Joao Ruivo, Matthieu Hackenheimer, Joseph Chartouni, Wim Sjerps |
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