Chyutin Architects Ltd

Haifa Court House

HAIFA COURT HOUSE 

Chyutin Architects

Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects

LOCATION
Haifa, Israel

CATEGORY
Institutional Buildings

Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects

Text description provided by architect.

THE URBAN CONTEXT:

Haifa is the main northern city of Israel, situated on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, on the slops of Mount Carmel.

The building site is located at Haifa’s downtown area, between two roads that define its boundary.

Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects
Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects

The lower avenue serves as a main city thoroughfare, linking the city of Haifa to the northern part of Israel.

The topographical situation is unique as the topographical soaring of Mount Carmel begins at the site’s longitude parallel.

As a result, the building’s positioning is “double faced,” i.e., one side facing the mountain and the other facing the sea. The structure has two public entrances.

Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects
Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects

The main entrance leads from the urban square in the west directly to the upper entrance level. 

The secondary entrance from the urban square on the eastern side of the structure leads to the lower entrance level.

The building’s entrance square from the west is a meeting point of main urban pedestrian routes.

Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects
Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects
Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects

DESCRIPTION OF THE STRUCTURE:

The main concept pertaining to the building’s functional plan is expressed in the systematic approach, which regards the structure as a “law factory.”

The functional effectiveness surpasses considerations related to prestige or status. The building is composed of two blocs, with unique functional and spatial characteristics. The southwestern judicial wing, which is positioned along the length of the upper street, contains the courtrooms and judges’ chambers.

Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects
Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects

The northeastern administration wing, which is positioned along the lower main avenue, features the administration of the various courthouses.

The two wings demarcate a monumental entrance hall, which constitutes the bridging and connecting link between them. From the entrance hall one enters the general service activity area including the law library, a restaurant and the judges’ club.

Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects
Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects

A sweeping and wide ceremonial stairway, designed in the entrance hall, leads to the main levels, and overpasses link the judicial and administrative wings on the various levels.

THE TRAFFIC INSIDE THE BUILDING:

The interior of the structure is designed as a covered urban system. The courthouse’s entrance space is the continuation of the external pedestrian street, which is defined by the office buildings and stores along its length.

The space is designed as a covered street defined on its sides by the administrative and judicial wings.  The public activities (the library and restaurant) face the main space, like the stores on the main road.

Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects
Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects
Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects

NATURAL DAYLIGHT:

The penetration of daylight into all of the courtrooms and the adjacent judges’ chambers is a guiding principle in the choce of the architectural solution.

The secondary roads and lanes lead perpendicularly from the main space to the judicial clusters and the administrative service areas. 

The traffic of the various groups in the building is based on the principle of separating the routes of the different groups of users: Judges, staff, detainees and visitors.

Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects
Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects
Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects

This principle dictated the bloc-related split of the judicial wing into four “judicial clusters,” each of which contains six courtrooms. The main entrance hall is illuminated through an upper skylight.

Haifa Court House
Courtesy of Chyutin Architects


Haifa Court House
site plan
Haifa Court House
plan


Haifa Court House
longitudinal section 01
Haifa Court House
longitudinal section 02
Haifa Court House
longitudinal section 03
Haifa Court House
cross section

Chyutin Architects Ltd
T +972 3 7320064 F +972 3 7312760
Chyutin Architects Ltd
Giv'atayim, Israel