Supreme Court of New Zealand

Supreme Court building: Design Concept

It was decided that the new Supreme Court building should reflect the era in which it was built. The overall design concept is a modern interpretation of the old High Court building and incorporates an external bronze screen with a free-standing courtroom as the central focus of the building with the courtroom being visible from the outside.

The new building will provide some areas for outdoor seating use by members of the public and visitors to the Court. There will also be outdoor seating around the old High Court building.

The building has been designed in accordance with sustainable design policies and with low energy use in mind. A lot of the technology incorporated into the design is leading edge. It will utilise displacement ventilation; solar heating and the collection and use of rain water for toilets and garden watering.

There has been extensive consultation on the development of the design concept which has included the Supreme Court Judiciary, Historic Places Trust, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Ministry for the Environment and the Wellington City Council.

The designers of the new Supreme Court building is architectural firm Warren and Mahoney. The design brief required that the Supreme Court building was befitting of the highest Court in the land.

The concept of the free-standing, visible courtroom will act as a metaphor for promoting ‘justice to be transparent and open’. Similarly judges will preside in the court space at eye-level with legal colleagues and the public to encourage an atmosphere of inclusiveness. The new building will be surrounded by a bronze screen depicting the strength, durability and stature of the Pohutukawa and Rata tree. The building environment will have a uniquely New Zealand atmosphere.

The Historic Places Trust and a leading Conservation Architect, who was commissioned by the Ministry of Justice to assess the design concept in relation to its effects on the old High Court building, have expressed support for the design concept. The Historic Places Trust have been extensively involved in the development of the design and have said they support the project and also concur with the Conservation Architect’s assessment that on balance, and considering all aspects of the proposed upgrading using recognised criteria, there is a very positive heritage benefit in the planned work.