Tribunal De Grande Instance, Paris

“Entomology Lesson”
Bringing light to justice. This building is characterized by its rounded and generous forms. Its openings, interior and exterior circulations allow light to pass through—a light that also makes it shine over the city by day and by night.

Programme	Paris – Palace of Justice, 89 courtrooms, offices, detention cells.
Floor area	90 000m²
Project owner	EPPJP, Vinci Construction
Location	Paris 17
Design team	Associate Architect: Marc Mimram; Engineering: Egis; Façade Consultant: Arcora; Acoustics: Avel; Environmental Engineering: Oasiis; Fire Safety: Casso & Associés.
Construction cost (excluding VAT)	€ 375 000 000
Date	2011 (unbuilt)
Certifications	HQE, BBC
Awards	Winner of the first phase / Competition finalist

Loci Anima’s Proposal for the Paris Courthouse – A Vision That Never Materialized

In 2006, the agency Loci Anima, led by Françoise Raynaud, took part in the international competition to design the new Tribunal de Grande Instance of Paris, initially planned for the Tolbiac–Halle Freyssinet site.

Loci Anima’s proposal stood out for its generous, rounded forms, open internal and external circulation promoting natural light, and south-facing workspaces protected by sunshades, offering views onto nature and the Martin Luther King Garden.

However, the project was not selected. In 2010, the French state relaunched the initiative on a different site, at Porte de Clichy in the 17th arrondissement. The competition was ultimately won by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, and the new courthouse was inaugurated in 2018.

Although Loci Anima’s vision was never built, the project reflects the agency’s signature approach: designing architecture in constant dialogue with nature, and creating urban spaces that welcome both plants and animals.