Courts of Justice building (Valletta)
Courts of Justice building | |
---|---|
General information | |
Status | Intact |
Type | Courthouse |
Architectural style | Neoclassical |
Location | Valletta, Malta |
Coordinates | 35°53′54″N 14°30′44″E / 35.89833°N 14.51222°E |
Construction started | 5 May 1965 |
Inaugurated | 9 January 1971 |
Owner | Government of Malta |
Technical details | |
Material | Soft limestone and reinforced concrete[1] |
Floor count | 7 (4 above street level) |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Jo Tonna[1] |
The Courts of Justice building is a courthouse located in Republic Street, Valletta, Malta. It was built in the neoclassical style between 1965 and 1971 on the site of Auberge d'Auvergne, which had been destroyed by aerial bombardment during World War II.
History
The Courts of Justice building stands on the site of
The law courts moved to another location outside Valletta, but in 1943 they returned to the part of the auberge which was still standing. They remained there until 1956, when the premises had to be vacated due to their dilapidated state. The ruins of the auberge were subsequently demolished, and construction of a new courthouse on the same site began on 5 May 1965.[5][4]
The present courthouse was inaugurated on 9 January 1971 by
The courthouse also houses the Civil Courts Registry, the Court Archives, the police lock-up and a car park. The Valletta Police Station was formerly also housed within the building.[6][7]
The courthouse has been criticized, in the past, for its lack of security and for having the elevators out of order.[8]
Some buildings, opposite the Law Courts building on Strait Street, are an extension of the courts.[9]
Architecture
The Courts of Justice building is built to the designs of architect Jo Tonna in the neoclassical style, and its main feature is a portico with six columns.[1] The building has seven floors, three of which are below the main front street level.[6][1] The building occupies an entire block of the city,[9] except one corner which is occupied by the Savoy Building.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Replacement and Restoration of the Portico Column Bases at the Courts of Justice, Valletta" (PDF). Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government. 2012. p. 59 (2). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2016.
- S2CID 146525063.
- ^ Denaro, Victor F. (1959). "Houses in Kingsway and Old Bakery Street, Valletta" (PDF). Melita Historica. 2 (4). Malta Historical Society: 204. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2016.
- ^ ISBN 99932-39-40-2.
- ^ Ganado, Albert (28 March 1966). "Law Courts in Valletta". Times of Malta. pp. 39–40.
- ^ a b c "The Courts". The Judiciary of Malta. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015.
- S2CID 143536044.
- OCLC 17960662.
- ^ OCLC 1587122. Archived from the original(PDF) on 19 March 2018.