Light Well Sketches

 A sketch of the light well from the prisoners perspective

 A sketch from the judge/jury walkways crossing the light well.

Schematic Sketches

Whilst exploring the idea of using natural light to create presence in the court room, the section of the law courts went through a process of development.

This is my initial sketch of the law courts with a light well on the south side of the building bringing reflected light into each court room.
The glass public atrium faces north onto church street with solid louvers to reflect light and also provide shading in summer.
The offices and judges quarters to the south of the law courts have large glazed windows to increase the level of natural light without the glare issues of direct northern sunlight.

The law court structure has also been divided to three parts, local, district and supreme. The local courts are on the ground floor, with an open visual connection to the street. The district courts are level with the historic court house and link in the the heritage building. The supreme courts are on the top floor and are the most dramatic.

This sketch also included the prisoners access to the court house through the light well passage. The prisoners will cross from the police station, through the new law court building, to the heritage court house cells below ground level.

A sketch of the light and shadows created by the light wells, skylights and louvered ceilings. The public waiting area outside the supreme courts on the top floor have also been brought down to compress the public space and increase the impact of the high ceilings in the court room.

 Direct sunlight in the court room could be disruptive for the occupants so the roof section of the supreme court changes form to capture reflected light.

The ceilings of the court rooms are raised with the idea that the reflected light from the light well and the public atrium will wash the ceiling of the court room with soft light.

The final section drawing. The local and district courts are similar in design though the local court has a more informal arrangement with a level floor. In the district court the judge is slightly raised, and in the supreme court the judge and court officials are raised from the main floor.

Presence in the court room

Light, the giver of all presences. Louis Kahn

Indirect natural light illuminates a room without causing glare on work surfaces. This technique could be used in the court room to create 'presence'.

Light and Texture Study

A collection of inspirational images of light, texture and architecture.

Source: http://applesandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2009/07/light.html

Source: http://www.trendir.com/ultra-modern/cathedral-of-christ-the-light.html

Source: http://www.architecture-page.com/go/projects/absence-of-light

Source: http://www.fmmagazine.com.au/uncategorized/refit-does-justice-to-law-courts/