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TWELVE COURTS BUILDING Location: Avenida España. Santiago, Chile Architects: Enrique Browne, Borja Huidobro Associate Architect: Ricardo Judson Collaborator Architects: Clara Guzman, Eugenio Browne, Felipe Browne Constructed Area: 8.064 M2. Site Area: 1.776 M2. Structural Consultants: Rodrigo Mujica, Harmut Vogel, Leopoldo Breschi Photography Credits: Guy Wenborne, Enrique Browne Date: 1993

This project is the result of a competition won in association with the architect Borja Huidobro, located in the western sector of Santiago. It should invoke the dignity of the Judiciary Power and its transparent functioning. The main volume is organized around a patio covered with glass. A division is introduced in this latter body that separates the public area from the employee areas. This division also serves to emphasize the main entrance, which is marked by two vertical aristas, symbolic of the soundness of justice. To the south of the main volume, another closed volume is established that houses those people under arrest. As such the complex is divided in three parallel areas (public, employees and emprisioned). The building has seven floors plus two underground levels. On the ground floor is the reception area along with other services. The upper six levels have two courts per floor. The public waiting room volume - in the shape of a ship - contains a large external stairway. It is used to descend, viewing the street and the mountain range. The interior activity will be seen from the neighbourhood and vice-versa. The inclination of the stairway defines the hard closure of the glass. As it descends towards España Avenue, the building will seem open and transparent from the main avenue. In the exteriors, materials which age well were used, such as marble, brick and glass. Four existing palm trees were moved towards the fachade of the complex to emphasize its institutional character.