THE KENYA
JUDICIAL ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITION
This just concluded design competition aimed to produce a
courthouse prototype that symbolized a vibrant, accessible, transparent and
impartial judiciary. It was a search for a visionary architectural and urban design
proposal that could be replicated all across the country. The entries were to
be evaluated on design merit such as creativity, functionality, form and
strength of concept, quality of sustainable ideas such as use of local
materials, durability, internal comfort and green ideas, and the impact the
proposal would have on accessibility and transparency of the judiciary terms
of:
- · Access by the physically challenged
- · Spaciousness
- · Safety
- · Landscaping
- · Visual Connectivity
- · Digital Connectivity
- · Branding
The form concept was abstracted from the judges’ hammer whose
sounding signals the start and the end of court proceedings at a state of rest,
lying on its’ side. The ‘head’ part of the concept would accommodate the core
functions of the courthouse – Court Chambers, Judges Chambers, Prisoner
Holding, Clerical Staff areas and general court administration. The ‘handle’
part of the concept would house Support facilities such as Restaurants, Lawyer
meeting rooms and a Court Library. Deconstructive philosophy principles of
slanting walls have been applied to abstract the ‘breaking away’ from
traditional systems by the judiciary.The expansive glass facades
in the North and South facing walls depict the transparency that the Kenyan
judiciary aims to achieve. It serves the purpose of allowing in considerable
amounts of daylight into the structure. Interior partitioning is done using 3mm
thick clear glass paneling on aluminum framing to allow visual continuity
across several rooms to enhance the concept transparency.The use of the
brilliant white colour on the exterior symbolizes the purity of the justice
system that will be housed within the proposed structure. It will also respond
to the suns’ hues and therefore show the vibrancy and flexible nature of the
justice system in Kenya. Atriums are the main source of natural ventilation and daylight
in the structure. Linear floor spans and orientation make maximum use of the
sun.
The Activity
Schedule for the proposed Courthouse would be as follows:
- Basement:
- Vehicular Parking for Resident and Visiting Judges, Court Staff and Prison Authorities.
• Ground Floor:
– Friend of the Court
– Probation
– Children's Court offices
– Court Administration
– Reception
– Restaurant
– Media Briefing Room
• First Floor:
– Magistrates Court
– Magistrate Chambers
– Court Clerk Chambers
– Law Library
• Second Floor:
– High Court
– Judge Chambers
– Court clerk offices
• Third Floor:
– Appeal Court
– Judge Chambers
– Court Clerk Offices
– Conference room
• Fourth Floor:
– Supreme Court
– Judges Chambers
– Non Residing judge’s chambers
– Court Clerk offices
This was not the
winning entry, but I cannot wait to see the future of Kenyan courthouses and
marvel at its architectural brilliance … or lack of it. Till next month, fellow
lovers of architecture.
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