Richard Rogers’ New Antwerp Law Courts Feature Unique Rainwater-Recycling Rooftops

Richard Rogers and Partners designed this super modern spiky building that—with a unique morphology and advanced energy saving technologies—has become a landmark for Antwerp, Belgium. The New Law Courts are designed with sustainability in mind: the building makes great use of natural light, has low-velocity ventilation and recycles rainwater collected from its distinct rooftop.

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Located in the south of the Flemish city, on Bolivarplaats, The New Law Courts was erected by Richard Rogers in conjunction with Belgian architects VK Studio. It houses 8 distinct civil and criminal courts, 36 courtrooms, offices, chambers for judges and lawyers, a library and cafeteria. Its most striking feature, the pointed roof structure with soaring spires, rise above a series of paraboloid roofs that cover the courtrooms and recycle rainwater.

With an east-west orientation, the spires were placed for catching as much sunshine as possible. They are glazed on one side and reflective on the other. From afar, they provide the area with a unique aesthetic reminiscent of ships’ sails or marine waves, matching the angled stones that divide the road from the leafy square.

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