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Residents of Clichy-Batignolles on the northern edge of central Paris have been craning their necks a lot lately, owing to a 160-metre skyscraper with 38 floors that has risen in their neighbourhood. Visible from across the city, the Renzo Piano-designed Palais de Justice consolidates various regional, police, public prosecution, and district courts around the city to become the largest law courts complex in Europe.
Four stacked volumes of decreasing size, each containing about ten levels, comprise the development. The narrow, 35-metre-long elevations paint a deceiving picture of the tower. While it may seem slender from these angles, sprawling glass walls on the opposite sides reveal an imposing silhouette. These smooth double-skin expanses are broken up by a vertical strip that houses elevators with panoramic views.
The terracing approach creates room for dramatic rooftop patios. With approximately a hectare of space and 500 trees in total, the green platforms serve as quiet places for relaxation and reflection. On the ground, a piazza of 6,000 square metres welcomes tenants and visitors to the tower. The building's first block forms the concourse, where 50 reception desks cut down on waiting time and enhance navigation. Three atria highlight the 5,500-square-metre space, reaching to the top of the first volume, where skylights bleed natural light into the concourse.
Acting as the pedestal of the building, this block also contains the building's 90 courtrooms. The remaining volumes are where the offices and meeting rooms are located. The entire building program puts focus on environmental performance, with natural ventilation, rainwater collection, and exterior photovoltaic panels underlining the building's commitment to sustainability. New images of the development show cladding enveloping the majority of the topped-out concrete structure as the 2017 completion date nears.
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