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A Golden Calling Card for Europe
GKD – Gebr. Kufferath AG working within the world of woven metallic architectural, on the
European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
contemporary response to the early 70's
architecture in the middle. The ring provides
10,500 square metres of office space for the
President of the European Court of Justice as
well as for the judges and the Advocates
General of all EU member states. The highlight
of the structure will be the new principal
courtroom with 40 judge's benches and seats
for 280 spectators. Its tent-like ceiling will
feature a golden metal mesh which will float
over the room like a shining Medusa.
The shimmering tent will give the courtroom on
the ring-shaped office gallery a ubiquitous
presence, while at the same time concealing
the action of the trials taking place within.
Sculptural towers as new landmarks
Not far from the new “old” Palais de Justice, the
expansion on the Kirchberg Plateau has also
given the European Court of Justice two 100
metre high office towers. With their 24,000
square metres of floor space, these will finally
provide enough room for all the translators and
lawyer linguists. Here, too, metal mesh, as a
typical trademark of Perrault's architecture,
plays an outstanding visual role. As puristic,
sharp-edged sculptures shimmering all round in
gold tones, the two towers with their 24 storeys
complement the low, plain structure of the
Palais de Justice to create a representative
ensemble. The gold-coloured cladding of the
twin towers, visible from afar, is formed of 7,724
panels of an aluminum mesh especially
developed for this particular application.
Each panel was installed between two window
panes in a frame, also coloured gold.
Zigzag Edging as a Design Highlight
The design highlight of this construction is a
specific zigzag edging of the mesh that gives
the apparently seamless all-round façade an
additional depth, while at the same time
ntil the beginning of the '70s, the most expensive construction project in the allowing sophisticated accentuated lighting.
U
European Court of Justice was history of the country. By 2008, it will reunite In addition to its aesthetic features, the mesh
located in two rented buildings in the staff of the Court, currently numbering also offers the advantages of long service life
the city: in the Villa Vauban about 2,000, in a single building complex. and complete recyclability. A total of 20,190
(from 1952 to 1959) and in a square metres of this gold coloured anodized
rather inconspicuous building on the Rue de la A Golden Ring Around the Palais de Justice mesh was supplied as already edged panels in
Cote d'Eich (until 1972). Then, in 1972, the After the removal of asbestos from the old varying sizes - but for the most part measuring
Luxembourg government built the Palais de 25,000 square metre Palais de Justice, the 3.72 x 0.73 metres each.
Justice on the Kirchberg Plateau as a expansion planned by the French architect
permanent home for the Court - just in time for Dominique Perrault was conducted in two A Strong Symbol for a Strong Community
the expansion of the Union. This building soon stages: the refurbishment and extension of the Self-confident and expressive yet at the same
became too small, and the next twenty years main building, and the construction of two new time with a minimalistic elegance, the twin
saw three expansions of the construction. office towers. golden monoliths reflect the identity of the
These extensions also proved insufficient in The original Palais de Justice, freed of European Court of Justice as the defender of
the long term, which is why the Court has so far asbestos, was surrounded by a two-storey ring the community rights of the EU's current
had to rent four additional buildings. For this of offices on 14 metre high stilts. The new 27 member states. Transparent and yet closed,
reason, the Luxembourg parliament decided in façade consists of vertical golden glass panels perfectly in tune with the obligation of the
2002 on a fourth and for the time being last of varying widths which create a visual Union's organ of jurisdiction, Dominique
constructional expansion of the Court of Justice connection between the two floors of the ring Perrault's design combines structural strength
of the European Communities. With a budget and the supporting ceiling on the stilt structure - with translucence to create a strong symbol for
of around 350 million Euro, this has been the as an unpretentious and at the same time a strong community.
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