Palace of Justice, Putrajaya

Palace of Justice
Istana Kehakiman ايستان كحاكيمن
Location within Malaysia
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Federal Court
Architectural style	Islamic Moorish Palladian and Neoclassicism
Town or city	Putrajaya
Country	Malaysia
Coordinates	2°55′01″N 101°41′01″E / 2.9170°N 101.6837°E / 2.9170; 101.6837Coordinates: 2°55′01″N 101°41′01″E / 2.9170°N 101.6837°E / 2.9170; 101.6837
Groundbreaking	1999
Construction started	2000
Completed	2003
Inaugurated	2004
Technical details
Floor count	5
Design and construction
Architect	aQidea Architect, AR Ahmad Rozi A Wahab

The Palace of Justice (Malay: Istana Kehakiman; Jawi: ايستان كحاكيمن) houses the Malaysian Court of Appeal and Federal Court, which moved to Putrajaya from the Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Kuala Lumpur in 2003.^[1]

History[]

Side view of the palace of Justice

Due to the need for a proper office of the head of the judicial system in Malaysia, a location within the Precinct 3 of Putrajaya was identified for this purpose. aQidea Architect was once again called to be commissioned to design the building after finishing the Prime Minister's Office not far from the Palace of Justice. The building houses 2 Federal Courts, 6 Courts of Appeal, the Chief Registrar’s Office, 2 registries for the Federal Court and the Court of Appeal (as required under Articles 121(1B) and 121(2)), a conference hall, a library and a museum.^[1] The complex has an intricate network of passages which segregate the Judges, witnesses, public, and the accused leading to the courts right from the car park or area of arrival. This is for the safety and security of everyone involved in order to achieve the desired courts functions and ambiance. The design is about bringing about "Order" and order is the theme of the day as the layouts are fashioned in an orderly manner, right from the smallest of rooms to the biggest and from the public realm to the private domain. AR Ahmad Rozi Abd Wahab, the principal Architect was personally responsible for the design layout and coming out with the architectural concept and ideas.

Architecture[]

Palace of Justice at night

The Palace of Justice's design incorporates influences of Classical Islamic culture like Taj Mahal in India, Moorish culture, like the Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Kuala Lumpur and Western Classical influence, like Palladian. The classical design gives depths to the building skin and creates interesting articulated facade.

The complex comprises a five-storey building for the judiciary and a two-storey building to house the courts and offices.^[2]

Interior[]

There is a large central atrium (Rotunda) around which the various rooms are arranged. The atrium helps to guide visitors who had just arrived into the building and has clear visual connection to the other floors above.

The Library is located on the Ground floor adjacent to the entrance door, with the hearing rooms of both the Federal and Appeal Courts located on the first floor. The Registries and offices of the Appeal and Federal Courts are on the second and third floors respectively. The Judges chambers of the Appeal and Federal Court are located on the fourth and fifth floor.

The locations of these functions are designed on designated levels to ensure privacy and security. Even the location of car parking are segregated between the judges, the staffs and the public. The arrival point for people driving their cars to the Palace of Justice are carefully scrutinised to ensure safety, security and privacy. The layout is designed to have direct access for judges to go to their respective chambers from their car park. Public spaces are designed to certain secured zones only.

See also[]

• Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex

References[]

Media related to Palace of Justice, Putrajaya at Wikimedia Commons