The project, designed by Julia Napierała of the Faculty of Architecture at Poznan University of Technology, proposes an alternative concept for the Appellate Court in Poznan. It not only responds to the urban and environmental challenges of the city, but above all redefines the relationship between the judicial institution and the citizen. The project is a manifesto of space - safe, open, human.
courtroom
© Julia Napierała
city, heritage and responsibility
The alternative vision of the court grows out of the need to transform the current project on Hejmowskiego Street - not only on the level of form, but also to fit it more deeply into the context of Poznan's historic downtown. A key element of Julia Napierała's concept is the expansion of the plot to include a parcel of land on Solna Street, which makes it possible not only to increase the building area, but also to open the entire court district to the city and residents.
This opening has not only an urban dimension, but also a symbolic one - it shows the institution of justice as closer to the people, less isolated, more accessible. The author creates a greenery buffer between the building and the neighboring music school - this is not just an aesthetic gesture , but a conscious action to improve the microclimate, reduce the urban heat island and protect water retention. The project thus supports sustainable development.
frot elevation (north), administration
© Julia Napierała
The development fills in urban gaps, respecting historical divisions and heights. The lump of the courthouse harmonizes with its surroundings - it is between the heights of the Ikar Hotel and the music school, while matching the scale of the existing District Court and Prosecutor's Office. It does not dominate - it fits respectfully into the fabric of the city.
a form that speaks: justice
The functional layout of the building responds to the challenges of the plot - irregular, but well set in the modernist grid. The main body is divided into two distinct zones: judicial and administrative, connected by two connectors. One of them, at ground level, serves as a convoy road. The other, on the +1 level, is a connector for judges and staff.
Such a division clearly organizes functions, while ensuring a high level of security. By separating the movement of visitors, employees and detainees, an orderly but not oppressive space was achieved.
cross-section A-A
© Julia Napierała
The highlight of the project is the courtrooms designed on a circular plan. This symbolic gesture - the round table - refers to the ideas of equality, dialogue and community. The court space is no longer a place of domination, but of encounter. An open staircase extends from the first floor to the fourth floor, reinforcing the effect of transparency and flow of space.
The monumentalism of the building is not intimidating - expressed by the contrast between solid walls and glass panes, it creates a sense of solemnity rather than overwhelm. It's a modern reinterpretation of institutional architecture - more inclusive than authoritarian.
interior of the courtroom
© Julia Napierała
not just the building
The northern part of the building is designed with courtrooms for more complex cases - including those from the criminal division. On the top floor, overlooking the green areas, there is a conference room and a library with a reading room - a symbolic culmination of the whole idea: knowledge and exchange of ideas as the highest authority.
In turn, an administrative zone, accessible only to employees, is hidden in the depths of the plot, facing Hejmowskiego Street. Its hierarchical but clear layout allows for efficient organization without the impression of isolation or rigidity.
administration room
© Julia Napierała
The project is not limited to aesthetics. It points in the direction that other public institutions could follow. Instead of copying patterns, it puts the ind
court as a manifesto
Julia Napierała's project shows that court architecture can be more than just a utilitarian space. It can become a bridge between history and the present, between the institution and society. A form that serves, but also speaks - with material, light, space.
link
© Julia Napierała
This is an architecture that does not hide power, but tames it. The courthouse as a meeting place, not just a place of settlement. A project that is an alternative to the edifice currently under construction, but also an inspiration for further thinking about the role of institutions in the city.
