Court Of Justice

Project Description

13 September 2013 marked the opening of Court of Justice in Hasselt, designed by the team of architects comprising J.MAYER H. Architects, a2o-architecten and Lensºass architecten. After completing the exterior as early as 2011, the interior following in the spring of 2013. The new court of justice is an open, transparent building with direct public access, combining the Court of Justice with a university library and auditoriums for the faculty of law. In keeping with the building’s logistical requirements and safety measures, the structure is divided into three separate units: courtrooms, the library for students and an office tower with a 64-metre-high panoramic restaurant at the top, affording a panoramic view of the city of Hasselt and its surroundings.
Based on a master plan by West 8, the former railway station site has been restructured with a park, public buildings, offices and hotels, as well as urban residential blocks. The team of J. MAYER H. Architects, Lens °Ass and a20-architecten realised one of the two high-rise buildings, the new court of justice, a structure that represents a contemporary urban landmark of the new district. References in the design process include the image of the hazelnut trees in the city of Hasselt’s coat of arms, and the steel structures in the area formerly influenced by industry and art nouveau.