Supreme Court of the Netherlands
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.
