Southampton Magistrates' Court, Southampton
The site for the Magistrates' Courthouse is situated on the edge of one of the few remaining fragments of early nineteenth century Southampton within a Conservation Area. The site was long and narrow (approx 150m by 30m orientated on an east/west axis).
The brief was to create twelve law courts, with accommodation for magistrates and the public, and to provide custody arrangements and facilities for support staff.
The courtrooms and magistrates occupy the southern edge in a linear block expressed in render. The public areas face north and were conceived to be transparent to an existing garden. The site strategy of a bomb blast 'stand-off' zone to the north becomes an extension to the existing public garden.
The twelve courtrooms are arranged on two levels and paired around three staircases, with the magistrates' circulation and meeting rooms on the south facade. Environmentally, the architects wished to develop the notion of creating conditions appropriate to the activities contained within and the control of these are explicit in the materials and form of the enclosing envelope.
The project received a Civic Trust Award in 2003 - Winner.
