salzburg courthouse

architectural concept
the courthouse is radically cleared of its architectural overgrowth. the prison wings are demolished, restoring clarity and transparency within the complex. the courtrooms are organized on one level – the entrance level – within the now spacious inner courtyard. the existing building remains untouched by any new additions. integrated relaxation zones – operable winter gardens – structure the area and create a visual counterpoint to the tense atmosphere of the court. protected from outside view, the courtrooms adjoin the winter gardens on one side to promote focus and provide fresh air. a light, shaded glass envelope protects the area from weather exposure while keeping the existing structure visually present at all times. gentle, wave-like roof inclinations direct rainwater into the winter gardens. the demolition line of the former prison wings follows the physical boundary of the stairwell walls, with the corners defined by clear new architectural edges. the main entrance to the courthouse is located on the traffic-calmed kajetanerplatz. the entrance level provides barrier-free access through the security gates into the central courtroom courtyard. this level connects to all stairwells, ensuring that every area of the regional court, the judicial offices, and the prosecutor’s department is vertically linked. the criminal courtrooms are situated between the prison area and the public circulation zones to prevent any contact between defendants and victims outside the courtroom. the detention and interrogation area has a separate, non-visible entrance for prisoners in the basement, accessed via a half-level ramp leading directly into the secure transfer zone. other public service areas are located half a level above or below the distribution level of the courtyard. in the stately former entrance rooms on rudolfsplatz, the courthouse restaurant is housed; due to its location, it could potentially remain closed toward the interior and open outward beyond court hours.
the workspaces of the regional court and the prosecution office are arranged around the courtroom courtyard, providing clarity and ease of orientation. the distinct transverse and longitudinal walls of the existing structure remain untouched, while functionally disruptive partitions are removed. flexible interior partitions separate workspaces without compromising the visual continuity of the existing architecture. the building wings are structurally reinforced with transverse shear walls for seismic stability. the already developed attic spaces continue to be used, while the central zone above rudolfsplatz is developed for it areas. disruptive roof windows are not necessary here. by removing later additions, schanzelplatz is restored to its original urban openness and spatial scale, covered on the first and second floors by a light bridge structure. delivery, supply, and disposal routes run through the entrance zone on kajetanstraße into the loading yard, located half a level lower. the technical rooms are directly adjacent to this service area, allowing for easy installation and replacement of machinery, equipment, and furnishings.

structural concept
the structural design of the new ground floor level within the existing courtyard envisions a lightweight steel-and-glass roof structure. it is supported by solid boxes made of precast concrete elements, ensuring both cost efficiency and short assembly times. the steel roof structure consists of tensioned beams with continuous purlins in the transverse direction. both the upper chord of the tensioned beams and the purlins are designed with slender t-profiles. the newly constructed basement levels in the courtyard are structurally separated from the existing building. the structure itself is designed as a “white tank” in reinforced concrete construction. the ceilings are flat slabs supported by reinforced concrete walls, produced economically using precast or hollow-wall systems.

energy concept
heat supply is provided through a district heating connection, designed as a dual-stage transfer station to maximize return temperature reduction and energy efficiency. additionally, the condenser of the cooling system for the it rooms can be integrated into the heating network, operating as a geothermal heat pump when required. heating control groups are provided for the radiator circuits, for the active heating/cooling ceiling systems in the courtrooms, for underfloor heating in public areas, and for the ventilation systems of the courtrooms and the criminal court hall. cooling is provided by a compression chiller with separately installed, air-cooled condensers operating in free-cooling mode during winter. if geothermal energy use is feasible, the condensation heat can instead be transferred into the ground (as shown in the schematic). in this case, direct free cooling via active building components from groundwater is also possible. cooling control groups are provided for the active building components and the ventilation systems of the courtrooms and the criminal court hall.

fire protection and escape route concept
with the exception of the subdivision of fire compartments in the ground and basement levels, the design complies with the standards described in oib guidelines 2 and 2.2. in the ground and basement areas, the maximum permitted fire compartment size defined by the oib guideline is significantly exceeded. the implemented compensatory measures – smoke and heat extraction systems, automatic sprinkler systems, early fire detection, and immediate alerting of building occupants and emergency services – together ensure an equivalent level of safety compared to a conventional compartmentalized fire protection approach, without compromising cost efficiency. the installation of a sprinkler system allows the omission of a large number of fire-separating components as well as measures against horizontal and vertical fire spread in this area. additionally, it enables a more economical fire-resistant design of the courtyard roof through heat-load-based calculations.
alternatively, under certain conditions, it would be possible to omit the sprinkler system: the existing basement and ground floor areas would be separated as independent fire compartments from the main hall, each courtroom would form its own compartment, and the circulation areas within the hall would remain free of combustible materials.