Palais de la Cour de Justice
The Palais de la Cour de Justice is a building complex acting as the seat of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), located in the European district of the Luxembourg City quarter of Kirchberg. Today the Palais complex encompasses the original 1973 building, now known as the Ancien Palais, which houses the court rooms of the CJEU's Court of Justice, the Anneau building, encircling the Ancien Palais, which contains the judges chambers and deliberative rooms, the three tower buildings containing the CJEU's translation services, and the Gallery building, containing the CJEU's legal library and linking all the structures of the Palais complex with the renovated three annexes (Erasmus, Thomas More and Themis) originally constructed between 1978 and 1994 that now host the court rooms of the CJEU's General Court.
Palais de la Cour de Justice
Seat of the Court of Justice of the European Union and its two component courts
9 January 1973
1986–1989, 1989–1992, 1992–1993, 2004–2008, 2013–2019
The Palais' third tower, and latest extension to the complex, is the tallest building in Luxembourg, and, according to the CJEU, boasts the only skyscraper observation deck in the world with a view over four countries: Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg.
History: 1973–1994[edit]
Ancien Palais building[edit]
Today's present day CJEU has been based in Luxembourg City since its original formation in 1952 under the EU's forerunner, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) — as were, on a provisional basis, all institutions of the newly formed supranational organisation.[1] Due to the lack of suitable premises to house the new institution, it was split across three buildings: the Villa Vauban, for the chambers of the seven Judges and two Advocates General; the Hamilius Building, for the language services, and the Maison Hellinkx, for the administration and the library.[1] This arrangement was maintained until August 1959, when a building large enough to host all departments, located on the Côte d'Eich, was made available by the State. However, following the Luxembourg government's decision to re-develop the Luxembourg City quarter of Kirchberg as a district dedicated to the European Communities (EC) — of which, despite their separate nature, the Court had become their sole judicial arbiter — it was decided to relocate the institution to the plateau.[1]
The original Palais building, now known as the Ancien Palais building, was the first building of the EC to be designed through an architectural competition.[2] Luxembourg architects, who could invite foreign partners proposed seventeen different projects. A jury composed of architects from neighbouring Belgium, France and Germany, rejected the most extreme designs.[2] The Luxembourg government desired a design that would be symbolic of venture for European unity. The winning design, submitted by Jean Paul Consemius of Luxembourg, with François Jamagne and Michel Vande Elst of Belgium, was inspired by classical Greek architecture.[2] The building, which opened in 1973, featured an isolated horizontal building reminiscent of an Ancient Greek temple at the top of a slope. In a tribute to Luxembourg's steel industry, the building was to be clad in Corox steel, which would require little maintenance.[2]
The Palais today[edit]
Fourth extension and renovations[edit]
Even prior to completion of the third annex, in October 1988 the Council of the then European Communities authorised the need for a fourth extension, recognising the need for office space to cope with an increasing workflow and the future demands of additional staff caused by future possible enlargements.[6] In 1996, this task was awarded to Paris-based architect Dominique Perrault following an architectural competition. The existence of asbestos in the Ancien Palais building, as well as outdated office arrangements in a building designed prior to the incorporation of modern IT services would require the gutting of the internals of the existing structures. Asbestos removal work began in 2000, with a ground-breaking ceremony held in 2002, and construction works on the fourth extension only beginning in earnest in 2004, and lasting until 2008, with the inauguration ceremony occurring on 4 December of that year.[7][8] Subsequent renovation works on the three annex buildings also occurred.
The most striking adaptations brought by Perrault's design to the present day Palais include his decision to build vertically due to space constraints, and the striking use of the colour gold on the façades and interior finishing's of the building. Of the latter, Perrault has claimed that this is a reflection of the CJEU's role as a "constitutional" — rather than a criminal — court.[9] Perrault has also spoken of his desire to demonstrate, via his designs, a blend of two distinctive styles: the iconic and ritualistic, with the transparent and modern.[10]