Neue Schauspielschule Hannover
Master’s thesis Winter 2020/21

Published by the Department of Design and Sustainable Building
(Prof. Christoph Kuhn)

Climate change, as a result of highly complex global interconnections, cannot be controlled on a national level. The worldwide climate- and environmentally damaging actions, with their dramatic consequences for all living beings, can only be assessed and evaluated on an international level, and can only be sanctioned by international jurisdiction.

Against this background, there has long been a call for a globally recognized environmental court to take on this role with the corresponding authority and enforcement power. These institutions, both state and international, develop their impact not only through their specific content-related actions but also through their location and the building, i.e., the architecture, in which they operate. Even today, important court buildings are still referred to as “Palaces of Justice.” This naming emphasizes the importance of justice as a controlling and balancing counterpart to the executive government, which should also be expressed in the built presence of the architecture.

The undeniable effects of climate change and the now widely accepted recognition that they are the result of human (mis)actions lead to the question: Who is to blame? Who is the perpetrator, who is the victim? How should punishments be measured, and how can a balance be achieved? These questions will be addressed in an international court of justice.

This building will serve as the framework and stage for these proceedings. From the special challenges of providing both protection and security for the accusers, defendants, and judges, while also offering maximum openness and transparency to the public, arises the specific typology of the justice building. The environmental court is a building that must reconcile these heterogeneous functional requirements with the spatial readability for those working there, for the affected parties, and for interested observers.

The location is at the currently unattractive southwestern end of Venice, in the area of the cruise terminals. To protect the lagoon and the city, the largest ships have been denied access since this summer, and a new terminal is planned to be built outside the lagoon. A great potential emerges to use these areas differently, primarily not for tourism, and to make them accessible again to the city's population. Directly opposite, on the mainland, is the industrial port of Marghera. Serving as a permanent backdrop in direct opposition to the endangered fragile (protected?) cultural heritage, the scene urges immediate action. This prominent location, with its wide visibility, offers the court the opportunity to unfold its important symbolic impact globally, while also serving as the beginning of a social urban development, continuing from the adjacent residential area and university. The connection to the neighboring districts, the design of the open spaces, and the waterfront will play a key role in this development.

In light of the immense and diverse architectural wealth of Venice, you are tasked with designing an independent architectural response that must, of course, meet comprehensive sustainable requirements. A globally legible architecture in balance with the local context of the historic city and the ecological natural environment of the lagoon.

International Environmental Court of Justice, Venice

What globally readable architecture does Venice need? The International Environmental Court consists of three buildings of different sizes. At the center is the court building, which, with its simple geometric form, conveys a sense of power. It is accompanied by a tower and a public visitor and citizen center. The court building is raised to protect against the regular floods in Venice. At the same time, this is also a symbolic gesture, a “warning” against the flooding caused by climate change. The resulting open space beneath the building can be used for events and exhibitions on environmental protection, thus promoting environmental awareness in a pleasant setting. In terms of urban planning, it aligns with the two surrounding axes and introduces a new one. The tower is oriented towards the court building.

International Environmental Court of Justice, Venice

To counter the climate crisis, which is often described in expert circles as “The Perfect Problem,” the design aims to emphasize the important message conveyed by this building. The tower stands orthogonally to the old Santa Marta Church and, together with it, forms the new forecourt of the court building. The base structure follows the shoreline and, with its height of 1.5 meters, protects the entrances to the tower, the exhibition area, the café, and the multifunctional room from the rising sea levels. To meet the requirements of an environmental court, the building's design follows a consistent and intrinsic sustainability strategy. The outer shell and core are made of a single-layer, self-supporting masonry. The inner load-bearing structure consists of wooden floors, supports, and beams.

International Environmental Court of Justice, Venice

At the International Environmental Court, issues are negotiated that will significantly shape the future of coming generations. The framework for this is an ensemble that respects and continues the existing structures in terms of scale and organization. The main building extends as a wooden cylinder over the waterfront, creating the necessary radiance towards the city center. Inside, the three courtrooms are stacked on top of each other. As visitors slowly ascend, they are offered new views at various heights. Following the example of the ancient theater, the rooms are designed with radial seating steps. The horizon of Venice serves as the backdrop for the proceedings. The office spaces of the Senate are located in a flat bar structure. The ground floor remains open, with seating steps by the water inviting visitors to linger. Opposite the church, aligned with the street’s axis, a cube houses public functions such as exhibitions and a library. In relation to the city on stilts, the facades are enveloped in oakwood slats. In the main building, this creates the impression of a structure rising from the water of the lagoon.