International Criminal Court

 
Architect/Design
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects

Location
The Hague, Netherlands
 
 
Project
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the treaty-based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of serious crimes that concern the international community. It is located in the Netherlands.


The first permanent premises of the court are set in a rolling dune landscape on the edge of The Hague. Designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen architects, the main concept is a sculptural arrangement of six connected building volumes. These reflect two core values of the ICC: transparency and accessibility.

The courtrooms feature diverse finishes, such as timber and concrete, which are hard by nature. These presented the architects with a significant challenge in terms of acoustic absorption.

 

Solution
257 Soft Cells Broadline panels by Kvadrat Acoustics covering 580 square metres, are used on walls and ceilings in the courtrooms. Upholstered in Remix, they provide seamless, aesthetic features. Furthermore, thanks to their built-in tensioning system, they also solve the long term maintenance issues caused by humidity.

The construction was realised by Courtys, a consortium of the VolkerWessel’s subsidiaries Visser & Smit Bouw and Boele & van Eesteren.

"Kvadrat Acoustics is a company that listens, contributes, learns, and likes to take on a challenge."
Theo van Hulst, Courtys

 

Photography by Ed Reeve