Completion of New Court of Justice in Hasselt, Belgium by J. MAYER H. Architects

Article source: J. MAYER H. Architects 

September 13th, 2013 marks the opening of “Court of Justice” in Hasselt, designed by the architects team of J. MAYER H. Architects, a2o-architecten and Lensºass architecten. After finishing the exterior skin already in 2011, the interior was completed in spring of 2013.

Image Courtesy © Filip Dujardin

• Architects: J. MAYER H. Architects , a2o-architecten & Lensºass architecten
• Project: Completion of New Court of Justice
• Location: Hasselt, Belgium
• Photography: Filip Dujardin , Philippe van Gelooven, Bieke Claessens
• Client: n.v. SOHA (Stedelijke ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Hasselt) – Autonoom Gemeentebedrijf Hasselt + Euro Immo Star)
• Construction Company: T.H.V. Hasaletum nv (Democo nv – Cordeel nv – Interbuild nv)
• Tenant: Regie der Gebouwen
• User: Federale Overheidsdienst Justitie
• 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
• Construction Start: October 2008 , Opening: September 2013
• Project-manager: Eurostation NV
• 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

Image Courtesy © Filip Dujardin

• Preliminary Building Works: Interbuild
• Facade: Democo NV
• Metal Construction: Cordeel
• Function: Courthouse including  Offices
• Site area: 3640 qm
• Building area: 3200 qm
• Total floor area: 21600 qm
• Stories: 13, Max. Height: 60 m

Image Courtesy © Filip Dujardin

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. In keeping with the building’s logistical requirements and safety provisions, 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.

Image Courtesy © Filip Dujardin

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 team of J. MAYER H. Architects, Lens °Ass and a20-architecten have realized one of the two high-rise buildings, “the new court of justice”, a structure that stands as a contemporary urban landmark of the new district. References in the design process point to both the image of the “tree”, the hazelnut trees in the City of Hasselt’s coat of arms, and steel structures in the once industrial- and Art Nouveau-influenced area.

Image Courtesy © Filip Dujardin

Image Courtesy © Filip Dujardin

Image Courtesy © Filip Dujardin

Image Courtesy © Philippe van Gelooven

Image Courtesy © Philippe van Gelooven

Image Courtesy © Philippe van Gelooven

Image Courtesy © Bieke Claessens

Image Courtesy © Bieke Claessens

Image Courtesy © Bieke Claessens

Image Courtesy © Bieke Claessens

Image Courtesy © J. MAYER H. Architects

Image Courtesy © J. MAYER H. Architects

Image Courtesy © J. MAYER H. Architects

Image Courtesy © J. MAYER H. Architects

Image Courtesy © J. MAYER H. Architects

Image Courtesy © J. MAYER H. Architects

Image Courtesy © J. MAYER H. Architects

Tags: Belgium, Hasselt

Categories: ArchiCAD, Government Building

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