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Chapter I
Background of the Problem
What is a Hall of Justice?
A Hall of Justice is an occasional term for a city's police headquarters, and exists in cities
across the country. In some cases, the facility may also house courts as well as jails.
The problem calls for a construction of a new and high-tech Manila City Hall of Justice
that would not only boast of having a character of being green and sustainable but would also
carry the distinctive Hall of Justice faade which will serve as a forerunner of a properly
designed Hall of Justice nationwide and to let a character evolved depicting such institutional
building as the home and haven of efficient delivery of the justice system.
(Satellite view of the site vicinity)
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Manila at a Glance
Manila, also known as the Pearl of the Orient, is located in Southern Luzon, the largest
of the more than 7,000 islands that make up the nation known as the Philippines. The city
flanks Manila Bay, and is divided into northern and southern sections by the Pasig River. Manila
serves not only as the country's capitol, but also as its financial, publishing, and business center.
The citizens of the city speak Tagalog, but most are also fluent in English, which is the language
of instruction in the public schools. Manila contains many of the country's largest and most
prestigious universities and is also home to the National Library. It was the central location of
the nation's battles for independence, first from Spain and later from the United States.
Colonized by the Spanish and later governed by the Americans, Manila shows the signs of
foreign influence in the widespread Roman Catholicism and the modeling of its schools upon
the American educational system. Despite these influences, Manila and its citizens demonstrate
a character and vitality uniquely their own
Manila is also politically subdivided into 6 districts:
District I - Tondo I
District II - Tondo II
District III - Binondo, Quiapo, Sta. Cruz
District IV - Sampaloc
District V - Ermita, Intramuros, Malate, Paco, Port Area, San Andres
District VI - San Miguel, Pandacan, Sta. Mesa, Sta. Ana, Paco (zone 90)
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Notable Landmarks
1. The Andres Bonifacio Shrine
2. The Manila City Hall
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3. The LRT 1 Central Station
4. SM City Manila
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5. Universidad de Manila
Rationale of the Problem
The proposed project aims to improve the Judiciary system in the City of Manila.
Significance of the Project
Nowadays, there has been an ever greater demand for the deliverance of the judicial
decisions within the country, and with the addition of another Hall of Justice to help serve this
increasing demand
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Project Limitations
The project is limited to the design of the Hall of Justice and its other amenities, facilities
and its site development.
Definition of Terms
Administrative Court - is a court specializing in administrative law, particularly
disputes concerning the exercise of public power. Their role is to
ascertain that official acts are consistent with the law. Such
courts are found in some European countries with civil law and
are considered separate from general courts.
Appellate Court - A court that reviews matters brought before it on appeal from
lower courts, and having the authority to affirm or reverse lower
court decisions.
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Constitutional Court - A constitutional court is a high court that deals primarily
with constitutional law. Its main authority is to rule on whether
or not laws that are challenged are in fact unconstitutional, i.e.
whether or not they conflict with constitutionally established
rights and freedoms.
Courtroom - a room in which the sessions of a law court are held.
Detention Area - an area responsible for detaining suspects which were arrested
under warrant.
Hall of Justice - an occasional term for a city's police headquarters, and exists in
cities across the country. In some cases, the facility may
also house courts as well as jails.
Jury - a group of persons sworn to render a verdict or true answer on a
question officially submitted to them.
Stenographer - a person who specializes in taking dictation in shorthand.
Supreme Court - A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of
many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts
include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court,
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or apex court. Broadly speaking, the decisions of a supreme court
are not subject to further review by any other court.
Vault - room or compartment often built of or lined with steel, reserved for the
storage and safekeeping of valuables.
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Chapter II
Site Analysis
The site is the property of the Supreme Court where the GSIS building presently stands
along Mayor Antonio Villegas Street, and is also situated near the LRT (line 1) Central Terminal,
Manila City Hall, SM Manila and the University of Manila.
Chapter III
Related Studies and Concepts
(Typical layout of a courtroom)
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(typical courtroom interior)
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Michigan Hall of Justice
The Michigan Hall of Justice, also known as the Michigan Supreme Court Building is a six-
story structure at 925 Ottawa Street in Lansing, Michigan. It is constructed in
the postmodern style and faced with over 14,000 limestone panels. The building was designed
by Spillis Candella and Albert Kahn Associates, Inc.
(The Michigan Hall of Justice)
The building contains a total of 280,000 sq. ft. (26,000 m
2
) houses the Michigan
Supreme Court, state court administrative offices and a 3,800 sq. ft. (350 m
2
) learning center.
The Michigan Hall of Justice is situated at the west end of the mall facing the Michigan State
Capitol and consists of a central entry framed by Doric columns and two curved wings. Above
the entry is a three-sided bay that is capped by a glass dome. One-story colonnades extend
from the two curved wings proving a covered area for pedestrians and helping to link the
building visually to the Capitol.
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(The Michigan Hall of Justice)
Palais de Justice
The Palais de Justice, located in the le de la Cit in central Paris, France, is built on the
site of the former royal palace of Saint Louis, of which the Sainte Chapelle remains. Thus the
justice of the state has been dispensed at this site since medieval times. From the sixteenth
century to the French Revolution this was the seat of the Parlement de Paris. The Palais also
contains the ancient structure of the Conciergerie, a former prison, now a museum,
where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned before being executed on the guillotine.
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(The Palais de Justice)
The architects of the monumental white-marble Second-Empire Palais de Justice (built
from 1857 to 1868) were Joseph-Louis Duc and Honor Daumet. The exterior includes
sculptural work by Jean-Marie Bonnassieux.
(The Palais de Justice)
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Los Angeles the Hall of Justice
In Los Angeles the Hall of Justice was the centerpiece of the Los Angeles County justice
system until it was damaged in the Northridge earthquake. The historic building was featured
on television shows including Dragnet and Get Smart. More significantly, it was the home of Los
Angeles County courts, the Los Angeles County Coroner, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office,
and the Los Angeles County District Attorney, and was for many years the primary Los Angeles
County jail.
Notable residents of the Hall of Justice included Charles Manson and Sirhan Sirhan.
Autopsies performed at the Hall of Justice include those of actress Marilyn Monroe and the
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assassinated presidential candidate and former United States Attorney General Robert
Kennedy.
(Los Angeles Hall of Justice)
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Quezon City Hall of Justice
Quezon City Hall of Justice (Mayaman), Quezon City, Philippines
Courthouse, City Hall
