Submission: January 4, 2022
Registration: January 3, 2022
Language: English
Location: Washington
Prizes: $24000
Type: Open Competition

The challenge is to design a courthouse that represents qualities of a good democracy, for, of, and by its people. The political persona of a society is reflected by the public buildings, and they become an important impression of its people. They have the capability to express the hopes, dreams, and goals of their people.

With time, there is a perceivable gap between the people and their civic institutions. There is cynicism about government, politics, and policies among citizens. This complex dynamic has rendered the public buildings as pain points for the community.

Civic buildings are built to serve the public. The construction of these institutions is done with the tax money, contributed by all citizens. They are built to ideally be approachable and accessible to every faction of society, from the rich to the poorest of citizens.

But these ideas of the government are often fogged by the complex play of politics. Government existence and strength are derived from the power it is given by the public. Even so, people are the ones who get undermined in this system, once authority takes control.

Design Objectives

Concept – Courthouse must make law and justice accessible to every individual. People who serve, and people who are being served, their daily lives in these spaces need to be designed.

Accessible – The structure must be designed barrier-free so that every citizen can enter. The access points must be allocated, programmatically.

Form + Space – The structure must have some openness and transparency so that it remains connected to the outside, public realm of the city. Design must be welcoming to the public.

Landmark – The courthouse will become the icon of pride of the local community.

Context – The design must respond to the (existing) site conditions. The wider socio-cultural, economic, and environmental settings are to be considered in the design approach.