Listers härads tingshus, District courthouse in Sölvesborg, Sweden.
Listers härads tingshus is a courthouse in central Sölvesborg, built 1919–1921 to Gunnar Asplund's designs. Its ochre-yellow facade rises to a large temple-like gable, with a round black clock with gold Roman numerals high on the wall and a wide semicircular arch over the glazed entrance doors, reached by a grey stone staircase. The rectangular plan partly encloses a circular courtroom that protrudes at the rear.
Listers härads tingshus was built between 1919 and 1921 to designs by Gunnar Asplund, who was about thirty at the time. It served as the district court for Listers härad until 2001, when the court moved to Karlshamn. In 1993 it was designated a listed building (byggnadsminne). Since the court left, the premises have been used by Sölvesborg's music school.
The building reflects Nordic Classicism with original wooden wall panels and furnishings that remain from its working days. These details create an impression of order and authority that was meant to support the judicial function.
The building stands at the end of Ungersgatan in central Sölvesborg, its gable closing the street. It has housed Sölvesborg's music school since 2001, so it is normally seen from outside; the semicircular arched entrance is reached by a grey stone staircase. The circular courtroom projects from the rear of the rectangular plan.
The gable was placed on the main facade instead of the long side, an unusual choice that makes the building look larger than it is. Behind the rectangular plan, the circular courtroom bulges out from the rear wall.
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