Since early civilization, the history of the courthouse and the city intertwine. The courthouse has always been an important urban artifact – both in Roman cities and in the Jewish tradition. This is also the case with the New Courthouse in Jerusalem.

The Courthouse is composed of 2 main parts: the plinth – containing the communal public functions, and the different courthouse buildings stemming from it.

The plinth contains the main entrance and the communal public functions (secretaries of the different courts, library, cafeteria etc) and integrates the courthouse into the city. It is characterized by a clear circulation scheme which leads to easy orientation and a sense of place.

The courthouses are articulated as separated buildings growing from the plinth. Each court has its own identity, while still being part of the whole, the city of justice. The courthouse halls are located in the center of each of the different building blocks, the judges chambers on once side and the circulation shafts for the public on the other. The division to the different buildings creates a strong relationship between interior and exterior, between the building and the city and allows to introduce filtered daylight into most of the courthouse halls.

The New Jerusalem Courthouse is a welcoming building that creates an accessible and open environment to the citizens, one that does not wish to punish them but rather to emphasize their rights. The building becomes the centerpiece of the new entrance quarter masterplan while relying and continuing the Jerusalem building tradition. It is a building where all individuals that cross its gates are welcomed with transparency and equality before the law.