Malmö City Courthouse

In symbolism and functionality, the Malmö City Courthouse is a statement of balance. Its architecture blends old and new Malmö -- The two-story base meets the rooftops of Malmö’s historic homes, while above, five offset towers rise upward with the glass offices of 21st century Malmö. A central corridor runs the length of the courthouse’s base structure, a spine linking the building’s 42 courtrooms.

The layout balances public and private realms: This central corridor establishes an indoor public commons, emphasizing the court’s commitment to the community, yet also makes space for private deliberations when discretion is necessary. This design stems from the personal emotions of legal deliberations, seeking to ease the process through human-focused design. The sloped roofs of the courthouse’s five towers cut a distinct new presence in the Malmö skyline. Rooted in organic form, the curves are an open metaphor: Perhaps the visualization of the scales of justice, or the natural equilibrium of nearby ocean waves.