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01-520
Project for law courts
and local offices of
the Ministry of Finance
/ dinant (Namur province)
/ 2007 *
The oldest quarter of the city of Dinant is situated in a narrow section
of the Meuse valley, squeezed between the river and a rocky embank-
ment. On the opposite shore, another part of the city is situated on
relatively narrow plots of land. This is the future site for the law courts,
in the city’s southern district, towards the entrance to the historic town
of Bouvignes-sur-Meuse. This project can be compared with that for
the Namur law courts
(01-511)
. It adopts certain elements from that
building, such as the use of cylindrical forms and the design of the
courtrooms, due to similar reasons of adapting to an irregular context.
However, the project is very different from Namur due to its size and
the relatively limited nature of the plot. These limitations have led the
architect to divide functions between two buildings of different dimen-
sions, while unifying them through a common language. In the same
way, the principal building, which includes five courtrooms, is not organ-
ised around the outside but in the interior of a central space that would
normally serve as a connecting gallery. The landscaping is designed
to preserve the views of the River Meuse. Like the Namur courts, the
facades in Dinant are clad in zinc, while a wooden facade with wooden
frames and balconies has been retained for the Finance Ministry. A small
English-style park plays a role in softening the irregularities of the terrain.