Palais de justice de Pontoise, Courthouse in Pontoise, France
The Pontoise courthouse is a modern judicial building with extensive glass facades that allow daylight to pass through and reflect the sky colors at different times of the day. The structure connects multiple functional areas under a unified design and creates fluid connections between different sections.
The building was designed by architect Henri Ciriani and opened in 2005 as a modern judicial center for the Val-d'Oise department. Its construction marked the centralization of legal services into a contemporary structure.
The structure incorporates a north-south axis spanning 190 meters with a central pedestrian pathway that connects different sections of Pontoise.
The building is open on weekdays during daytime hours and functions both as a court facility and as a passable pedestrian space. The wide entrances and public pathways are accessible to visitors who want to navigate the area.
The building contains a grand staircase that intersects with a public pedestrian pathway, creating an unexpected open connection between the court areas and municipal spaces. This openness is unusual for a judicial building and allows the public to pass through its corridors.
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