Frederiksberg’s listed courthouse from 1921 and the modern extension from 2012 may appear intentionally reserved in their expression—but now they’re opening their doors to curious eyes.
Frederiksberg’s protected courthouse, designed by Hack Kampmann in 1921, was joined ten years ago by a contemporary neighboring building, featuring brand-new courtrooms, offices, and facilities for court users. The extension, designed by 3XN, has a brick façade that blends with the architectural style of the surrounding buildings and Frederiksberg as a whole. A lighter tone of clay was chosen for the bricks to give the structure a more modern character.
A sense of seriousness
The challenge was to create an extension that communicates the seriousness of the institution architecturally—while still making people feel welcome. All windows in the courtrooms are positioned above eye level to prevent curious passersby from peeking in.
All users of the building—except the defendants—have access to an elongated atrium that divides the five-story building into two halves. The atrium runs the full length of the building from south to north and serves as a natural light source for all floors, including the courtrooms located on the two lower levels.
Step behind the walls
Few people dream of being invited to court—but when Open House offers access behind the walls, it’s a different story. When you show up at reception, it won’t be as a defendant or a victim—but as a curious visitor. And that curiosity is sure to be satisfied when you get the chance to explore both the new courthouse with its many facilities and the original listed building from 1921.
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