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Canberra High Court, by Edwards Madigan Torzillo Briggs
The design was the result of a competition held in 1972. Construction commenced in 1975 and the building was completed in 1980.
The architectural design embodies the civic aspirations of the High Court of Australia. The external promenade, with a water course leading to the building forecourt and the high glass walls, conveys both monumentality and accessibility. The location of the courts within the grand volume of the public space, and connected by the ramp promenade, suggests an openness to the court functions.
The ceremonial ramp within the building offers visitors and users an experience of the courts that places the public literally at the centre of the institution. The highly crafted quality of the building – from its bush-hammered concrete structure to the timberwork and court joinery – works to convey the significance and importance of the courts. Commissioned and integrated artwork further adds to the public spaces. In its materiality the building is made to last, emphasizing the permanent role of the court within the life of the nation.
