Brussels Courthouse Contest

Contest

The Brussels Courthouse (Place Poelaert, 1) defines the skyline of Brussels but is also suffering from various problems in terms of security, functionality, energy profile, stability issues, fire protection, HVAC, elevators, ... All these issues are particularly hard to solve as the building is part of the protected patrimony of the city of Brussels. An exceptionally strong view is necessary for the Courthouse be modernised and preserved at the same time. 

Within the framework of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union in 2010 and at the request of the Federal Government, the Belgian Buildings Agency and the Federal Public Service Justice held an International ideas contest to examine possible future uses of the Brussels Courthouse and the surroundings of Place Poelaert. A free rein has been given to creativity and imagination. 

The international ideas contest Brussels Courthouse, Imagine the Future! aims at developing a view of the future of the Courthouse. The contest suggested two scenarios: a Courthouse (partially) keeping its judicial functions (scenario 1) and a Courthouse cleared of its judicial functions (scenario 2). Consequently, the purpose of this contest was not to submit a finalized urban planning or architectural project. 

The following issues had to be taken into account:

• What could the Brussels Courthouse look like after architectural interventions, without being detrimental to the patrimony it represents?
• How is the proposition integrated in the environment of the Place Poelaert (other possibilities regarding the development for the site can also be proposed)?
• What are the new functions?
• Which vision will the legal professionals and the citizens have of the building after its modernization?- What are the new urban links of the building between the lower and the upper city of Brussels?

The contest was meant for professionals from all countries, either active in the fields of architecture, urban planning and Justice, or engineers, commercial engineers, artists, ... as well as schools active in these fields.

The call for ideas was a worldwide success. No less than 188 projects from all over the world were submitted.

The submissions were assessed by an independent jury on the basis of the relevance of the answers developed in the project to the problem raised by the contest regarding the building and its surroundings, the feasibility of the idea, the novelty of the idea, the quality of the project presentation en the quality of the integration of the idea in the urban environment.

The jury selected three laureates for each scenario.