Paris Courthouse

The new Paris law courts, rising 160 meters, span 110,000 square meters and serve up to 8,800 daily visitors. The structure features a Pedestal, integrating with the lower part of the Tower, and three stacked parallelepipeds that form the Tower above. Each block steps back slightly, creating a striking, tiered profile that sets it apart from conventional towers in Paris. Fully glazed façades on all three blocks enhance lightness and transparency, while east and west glass "frames" extend outward, offering views of Montmartre and the Eiffel Tower. The narrower north and south façades overlook central Paris, Clichy, and Mont-Valérien.

Visitors enter through the forecourt, marked by a canopy, vertical fissure, and French flag, into the Public Lobby. The centerpiece of this space is the Great Atrium, a 28-meter-tall rectangular hall filled with natural light from skylights, called “the Marilyns,” and a glazed forecourt-facing façade. Two smaller atriums to the north and south, of equal height, connect via a 160-meter-long corridor spanning the Pedestal’s ground floor. The lobby’s design emphasizes grandeur and openness, with slender steel columns, bright white finishes, and natural light. Wooden panels add warmth and sophistication, ensuring a welcoming atmosphere. Together, these features make the law courts a landmark of functionality, modernity, and architectural finesse in the heart of Paris.

The Paris law courts provide seamless access to 90 courtrooms, a public cafeteria, and key information services directly from the lobby. Each courtroom is finished with parquet and steamed-beech-wood paneling, with natural light streaming in through the façades. Behind the courtrooms, council chambers and deliberation rooms, also designed with warm wood finishes, are visible through the glazed exterior. On the eighth floor, a 7,000-square-meter planted terrace hosts a staff restaurant and a tranquil green space for reflection and interaction. Two raised gardens on the 19th and 29th floors further integrate nature into the building, extending the Martin Luther King park vertically.

Sustainability is central to the building, featuring horizontal and vertical photovoltaic panels that highlight a commitment to alternative energy. The courthouse meets Paris Climate Plan targets, adhering to stringent thermal regulations and pursuing HQE certification for environmental excellence. Designed for adaptability, the building’s robust and orthogonal structure ensures it can evolve to meet future judicial needs while continuing to integrate energy efficiency and flexibility in public architecture.