The Courthouse

More than being the first and most comprehensive look at the Amsterdam Courthouse, this book is a statement and a call for more open, collaborative designs made to last in the community they serve.

Located in the rapidly developing Zuidas district, the new Amsterdam Courthouse by KAAN Architecten exudes approachable authority, adhering to the principle that the judicial process is a public matter.  The stately yet inviting institution for public discourse was designed through a collaborative ‘DBFMO’ contract overseeing the building’s funding, construction, maintenance and property management..

The Courthouse ‒ Architecture for the Public Good has been entirely pro-duced and compiled by the building’s architects. In original essays and articles, they take us behind the scenes to unveil the Courthouse as the ultimate gesamtkunstwerk – both a project and a process. These in-depth analyses are visually documented by rich illustrations, construction photographs and technical drawings. Additional dialogues with client representatives, Courthouse spokespersons and Amsterdam’s urban planners untangle and explain the demands of a public building, architectural conceptualization and public-private partnerships.