Project

Architecture for Justice

No building is more widely talked about than the Palace of Justice in Brussels. Built between 1866 and 1883 by Joseph Poelaert, it evolved to become an icon of Belgian architecture. This monumental symbol of the rule of law defines the capital's skyline. However, these days it no longer satisfies the requirements in terms of safety and functionality. The societal role of justice has also changed. In other words, a strong vision is needed to modernise as well as protect the Palace of Justice.

 

Therefore in the spring of 2011, the Architecture for Justice exhibition was organised around the subject of the Palace of Justice in Brussels. The reason for this was the public ideas competition 'Brussels Courthouse, Imagine the future!' that FPS Justice and the Belgian Buildings Agency organised in 2010. Architecture Workroom Brussels was invited to be guest curator.

The objective of the ideas competition and the resulting exhibition was to research the future functions of the Palace of Justice and the immediate environment. Participants could choose between two scenarios: either the building would continue to serve as the Law Courts or this function would disappear for good.

Almost two hundred teams from home and abroad participated in the competition. The exhibition displayed thirty submissions and highlighted a wide range of views. The intention was not only to provide the winners with a platform, other ideas were also promoted.

The exhibition was organised around five major challenges for the future of the Palace of Justice, for which the submitted ideas and proposals provided solutions:

1. What could the Palace of Justice symbolise in the future?
2. How could the history of the place remain visible?
3. How could the monumental character of this icon be preserved?
4. How could this part of the city play a role in the dynamics of Brussels?
5. Can this historical architecture function in today's society?

Together with the safety and historical construction studies, the results of the international ideas competition and this exhibition constituted a firm basis for the design and implementation of a future project for the Palace of Justice and the surrounding part of the city.
 

Type: Exhibition

Year: 31 March 2011 to 15 May 2011

Location: Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR) Brussels

Initiator: Belgian Buildings Agency, FPS Justice

Co-production: Architecture Workroom Brussels, Bozar Architecture, A+ Belgian publication about Architecture in Belgium

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WORKROOM

Since 2010, Architecture Workroom Brussels has focused on the future of our living environment. The organisation began as a safe haven to address the link between space and societal transitions, aimed at fostering a futureproof design practice, commissioning and building culture.

It has now become evident that the transformation of our streets, neighbourhoods, and landscapes is both a prerequisite and a lever for achieving societal goals in synergy. Yet we observe that these transformations remain difficult to imagine and implement. They span so many sectors and involve so many actors that responsibility falls on everyone, and therefore, ultimately, on no one.

That is why we make it our mission to create the space that connects them. And with this refined mission comes a new name: WORKROOM, House for transformation. WORKROOM is the shared space where the future of our living environment is not only imagined but also organised.

We are currently taking the lead on three mission-driven transformations:

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  • FOSSIL-FREE NEIGHBOURHOODS - By 2030, at least ten neighbourhoods will be underway with the transition to fossil-free energy in an inclusive and affordable way, with a view to completely phase-out fossil fuels by 2040.
  • SPONGE LANDSCAPES - By 2030, we will have achieved our water, agriculture and nature goals through a single, coherent approach at catchment area level, in which strong regional coalitions collectively enhance the landscape's sponge capacity.

To make these transformations a reality, WORKROOM works shoulder to shoulder with pioneering designers, local authorities, organisations and businesses, governments, knowledge institutions and impact investors.

Through co-creative design, we imagine shared pathways to the future in exhibitions, publications, innovation programmes and public programmes. These are the workrooms where we connect the actors capable of realising these transformations. From there, we design shared ownership and the organisational, funding and policy models that lead to real change.

The name is simpler. The stakes are higher. WORKROOM is the shared space where we tackle the social and spatial transformations that no one can achieve alone. In an era of polarisation, compartmentalisation and instability, that is perhaps the most radical thing we can do.