Courthouse Breda

An authoritative yet accessible building

Our goal was to design an appealing and contemporary courthouse. A cohesive whole for three distinct yet recognizable organizations. This resulted in an authoritative yet accessible building. The courthouse consists of three stacked levels that become slimmer towards the top. The height symbolizes the court's authority, the layering represents the independence of the organizations, and the large windows make the building transparent and open. With this design, we bring the building closer to the public.

A pleasant indoor climate with natural resources

Our ambition to ensure that all users of the courthouse feel comfortable and function optimally has resulted in a pleasant indoor climate. With an eye to the future, we wanted to minimize the courthouse's environmental impact. We adapted the building's shape and orientation to the sun's position, ensuring optimal utilization of daylight and solar heat. The glass floors utilize a Dutch climate façade to save energy. Cooling with cold water from the Mark River also reduces energy consumption.

Guided by acoustics

Each room in the courthouse requires different acoustics. In the courtrooms, we wanted to elevate speech intelligibility. The high, open waiting areas, in particular, require a good balance between sound absorption, diffusion, and reflection. We also devised a solution to noise pollution from road and rail traffic. By locating the courtrooms in the center of the building, the waiting areas form a sound buffer.