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Justice for a new era

The Supreme Court of New Zealand

Project
The Supreme Court of New Zealand
Client
The Ministry of Justice
Location
Wellington
Completion
2010
In 2004, the Supreme Court of New Zealand replaced the Privy Council in London as New Zealand’s court of final appeal. Housing the new institution called for a building that would borrow from the best architectural and legal traditions and re-present them in an expression of open justice for a new era.

The site chosen for the new building was adjacent to the old High Court building, an elegant late-Victorian structure dating from 1897. To the east of the site lies the reclaimed waterfront and the harbour; to the northwest is the parliamentary precinct. Several design options were considered before deciding on a design that clearly expressed Aotearoa in the 21st century while still being sympathetic to the existing Victorian structure and the New Zealand legal tradition.

The courtroom’s beautiful egg-shape initially provided a strong design challenge. Its domed surfaces would cause sound to focus at specific points in the room, creating strange and uncomfortable sounds for both talkers and listeners. Following extensive 3D computer modelling, we created strategically located spiral-wrapped bands of diamond shaped and angled timber. These sound diffusion and absorption elements that create the aural and visual grandeur of the courtroom.

This design of this soaring central space was based, loosely, on the spiral patterns of the cone of the native kauri tree, a totemic tree in both Maori and European culture. Southern beech timber was used throughout the building interiors to give a sense 
The design brief was high in conviction. This was to be a building that related to New Zealand and how things are done here. Stakeholders wanted a building that connected to the outdoors and was filled with light. 
Bill Gregory - Design Director
The exterior screen is made of extruded, recycled bronze. This was developed in collaboration with Neil Dawson, a prominent New Zealand artist, in the shape of abstract, windblown pohutakawa and rata trees. In Māori culture, these trees signify the protec
The oculus-like skylight fits with the idea of justice illuminated from above. It also provide natural light and a view of the outside world during long hearings, even if it is just to see clouds going past very rapidly, in Wellington’s case.
In total, the courthouse contains a total of 2.5 linear kilometres of bookshelves for its extensive judicial library, a necessity that became one of the primary factors driving the design. As well as those in the judges’ chambers, the walls of the circul
As part of the project, the old High Court building – which had not been used for more than 15 years – was significantly strengthened and fully restored, and now houses ancillary administration, education and service spaces.

Collective Effort

Collective Effort

Nick Warring
Principal
Wellington
Andrew Wade
Senior Associate
Christchurch
Eugene Coleman
Senior Associate
Christchurch
Bill Gregory
Principal
Christchurch
Awards
2010 World Architecture Festival Awards - Finalist 2010 Designers Institute of New Zealand Awards - Built Environment 2010 NZ Wood Timber Awards - Interior 2010 NZIA Wellington Architecture Awards - Interior 2010 NZIA Wellington Architecture Awards - Heritage 2010 NZIA Wellington Architecture Awards - Colour Award 2010 RMB Commercial Project of the Year Awards - Industrial + Infrastructure - National Gold Award 2010 IStructE Structural Award - Building/Infrastructure 2011 NZIA National Architecture Awards - Interior 2011 NZIA National Architecture Awards - Heritage 2011 Property Council of New Zealand Awards - Heritage/Adaptive Reuse 2011 Property Council of New Zealand Awards - Special Purpose
Contact
Talk to us about your project. Tell us what you need. How we can help. We draw on a depth of disciplines from across our studio, bringing the right people together to deliver the best result. Contact us

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