The historic centre of The Hague is the backdrop for a clutch of key national institutions amongst which the Second Chamber of Parliament, the Netherlands Court of Audit, the Council of State and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court looks likely to move out of the small-scale old town centre due to a planned necessary enlargement. My design makes it possible to keep the premises of this important body in the city centre.

Following the said enlargement the Supreme Court will occupy something like 21,000 m2. This surface area is largely reserved for offices. There are in addition spaces for the library and public facilities such as the reception hall, restaurant and courtrooms.

The remodelled complex I have designed is to be sited at the rear of Huis Huguetan, a national monument dating from 1734 and the Supreme Court's current premises.

In view of the urban layout on site, I have configured my building in three parts. The first consists of Huis Huguetan. The second, the new civic building with all the public duties, stands on the square nearby (Louis Couperusplein). Sitting between these two is the third part, occupying an unstructured area characterized by the rears of the small-scale development backing onto it. So as to mesh this third portion of largely office space into its context, its programme has been chopped into smaller segments that lock into the scale of the surroundings. This in turn gives rise to a new and lucid urban structure.

The underground library unites and accesses all three portions along efficient and clearly organized lines. The library is crucially important for the functioning of the Supreme Court. In this space, a tightly organized system of stairs, lifts, daylight penetration and book stacks draws everything together. This system structures the office programme on the upper floors and generates changing spatial sensations and views.

Place of education: Amsterdam Academy of Architecture
Specialization: architecture
Tutors: Rob Hootsmans, Menno Homan, Willem Hermans