The District Court
Bad Liebenwerda, 1999

© Chestnutt_Niess Architekten

Time had long since erased the original spatial qualities of the 11th century castle and court-yards of Bad Liebenwerda. The design for the expansion of the existing district courthouse seeks to reawaken this spirit .

With the criminal court remaining in the old palace; the civil court in a new wing; and the department of deeds in the one-time jail house next door; the new additions strive through an architectural language of archaic forms to reinforce the spatial qualities of the historic situation and allow past and present disruptions to remain visible.

Design 1993

Architecture Prize Brandenburg 2003

Refurbishment and extension of the existing courthouse and Prussian Jail, in the former castlecompound to include the depart-ment of deeds and criminal court.

Client: State of Brandenburg, represented by the State Building Department Cottbus
Facilities used by: District Court of Bad Liebenwerda
Building cost: ca. 6,5 Mio. €
Primary use area: 2292 m2
Gross area: 5511 m2
Architectural services rendered: Lph.1-8



Photos: Werner Huthmacher