temporary courthouse

complex design challenge 

For the duration of constructing a large new headquarters, the Amsterdam Court required a temporary building on Parnassusweg. The demands on this temporary structure were high. Its interim nature was not to compromise its representativeness, and conditions for aspects such as equipment, logistics, acoustics, comfort, and safety had to be on par with those of a permanent building. As if this complex challenge wasn’t enough, the client, the Government Real Estate Agency (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf), also placed a strong emphasis on potential reuse.

rully reusable 

The design was aimed at allowing the building to be completely reassembled at a different location after its initial period of use. At every scale, cepezed explored opportunities for reducing, reusing, and recycling materials. Elements such as the façade fabric, staircases, glass panels, and door handles are all reusable—along with the entire structural framework. Together with engineering firm IMd, a special fastening system was developed for the hollow-core slab floors to make disassembly and reuse easier and to avoid material loss.

risk 

The building of the temporary courthouse was developed by the consortium dpcp (Du Prie Bouw & Ontwikkeling and cepezedprojects), which took on the project at its own risk. Du Prie Bouw & Ontwikkeling also acted as the main contractor. Lagemaat BV, a company specialising in dismantling, reassembly, and the circular reuse of materials, carried out the dismantling. After this phase, Groothuis Bouwgroep becomes the owner of most of the components and is responsible for reassembling the building in Enschede, after which it will be passed on to a new owner. In this context, the term ‘property value’ takes on an entirely new meaning.

storage 

After dismantling and before the building can be reassembled, the components are stored in various locations: partly in Genemuiden and Heerde, and partly already at their final destination, Kennispark Twente. There, the former courthouse will be reused in nearly the same form as a multi-purpose building for education and business. However, its internal layout will change to suit its new function, as the structure allows for the repositioning of interior walls. For components that won’t be reused, Lagemaat is seeking new purposes. For instance, worn floor tiles are being used to protect stored ceiling panels from damage. And the former police cells are being repurposed as fauna towers.