supreme court

the brief to design a new supreme court prompted a site visit to the existing courts in wellington. the presence of CCTV in these courts, alongside the inherent nature of the judicial system, led the design to incorporate television screens as an architectural element.

they alternatively displayed: court proceedings; circulation paths; other programs within the building (e.g. library, cafe, etc); the exterior park spaces; as well as, what was happening on the other side of the screen (e.g. as a window). to invigorate the 'see and be seen' approach, it was a priority to incorporate public space within the site and building itself. For example, the foyer to the supreme court is designed as a gallery space; while the exterior space maintains its previously-existing park quality to continue as a popular lunch-spot.