Courthouse – Toulon

The project consists of the refurbishment of the Palais Péri (dating from 1924) and its extension on the former prison site (of which only the gate is preserved in the landscape), in order to bring together all the Toulon jurisdictions currently spread across multiple locations onto a single site.

Architecturally, the project dialogues between heritage and modernity: the raw grooved stone base anchors the building in its context, the neo-classical porticoes are showcased in a contemporary writing, while the new volumes are organised in a ‘comb’ pattern around a vast salle des pas perdus, extended by two interior patios, bringing light and a visual link to vegetation. This composition offers an accessible, legible and serene justice setting, with 12 public hearing rooms, 21 chamber rooms, and around 350 workstations, the whole in a sober, clear and symbolically strong architecture.