Palm Beach Architecture: Courthouse Divides Pt. II

                Modernists and fans of innovation may quibble with our recent defense of neo-classicism.  It is easy to criticize these buildings: they are outmoded, designed for people of the average height in 1930, they signify an old, unjust power structure.  To these critics, then, a more reasonable example of a courthouse may be in Fort Lauderdale, where the courthouse lies just south of the riverwalk and the famous Las Olas Boulevard.

                Grayness of neo-classical marble may dissuade some; crowded, antiquated interiors may infuriate, and dated designs may symbolize only inconvenience for many.

                For this author however, the Broward County courthouse, modern though it may be, is a pathetic testament to the esteem in which we hold our justice system.  Avoiding all descriptions of architectural classification, consider the street view from the Southwest of the site:

Let's be honest: from this view, the courthouse resembles an abandoned tropical self storage facility.  The tiers above the top floor, with their window spaces open to the sky, remind one of something out of bombed-out Mogadishu, rather than a new, more equitable, modernity.

        And for the critics of neo-classicism who criticize the aging columns and marble which may turn gray over time, consider the scorched-earth appearance of the upper levels of this newer building.  Is that mold? The remnants of a fire? Whatever it is, it does not inspire me to some higher ideals of Western civilization and justice of our peers.   Rather, with the palm trees in front, it reminds me only of the tropical decay of a third world country.

                Most disconcerting, however, is the overall blandness of the design.  Ask the stranger or tourist on the street: “What is that building right there? Is it an office building? A warehouse?“ Whatever your average third party might say, they surely would not quip “It is clearly a public building, held in the highest esteem by the populace.”  In fact, at least from the most commonly used entrance for civil matters, the Southwest side of the site, the building almost completely blends in with its surroundings - despite the not as sleepy overall site design, seen at left.

And this failure to inspire from street level, in this critic’s opinion, is where the building’s design utterly fails.  A courthouse is not an office building – it is supposed to stand for some higher values or ideals.  Does an utterly non-descript building inspire anyone? 

From the FAD blog, then, we issue a sound thumbs down to the Broward County Courthouse.