The Federated States of Micronesia is a nation comprising the 4 states of Yap, Kosrae, Chuuk and Pohnpei spread across more than a million square miles of the Pacific ocean. The state of Pohnpei, home to the national capital, asked us to submit design concepts for a proposed State Supreme Court. In response, we offered two designs: the first was based on traditional, neoclassical architecture seen in countless courts and other government buildings around the world. Our second design reflected a metaphoric approach to the courthouse concept. It is based on the idea that justice should not only be transparent but should also be illuminated by a thousand points of light; that no one person or entity can cast shade upon the process. In addition, we wanted the court architecture to reinforce the stature of the Supreme Court as the highest in the land.
A Symbolic Approach to Transparency and Justice
The modern design solution comprised several compositional elements. First, we divided the complex into two separate buildings. The larger, more conventionally shaped building contains the administrative and support facilities. The smaller but more artistically imposing, oval architecture houses the stand-alone supreme court. Both buildings, which are connected by a covered path, have a skin that is perforated with dozens of small glazed openings. These not only serve to control the entry of bright tropical light into the buildings – but remind all those responsible for the administration of justice to shine light into the process at every step of the way.
