Family Justice Courts
The Family Justice Courts relocated to their new premises at the iconic Octagon building on 25 November 2024 to consolidate all services in one location for court users. Constructed in 1975, the Octagon building, formerly occupied by the State Courts and originally designed as a purpose-built Civil and Criminal Courthouse, is a rare example of a post-war building gazetted for conservation in 2013. Preserving the essence of the original brutalist design with its iconic eight-sided stepped exterior form and voluminous interior atrium, CPG’s multidisciplinary team ensured that architectural and structural interventions, along with a comprehensive overhaul of mechanical and electrical systems, were carefully modernised unobtrusively.
This project reflects CPG’s commitment to conservation and adaptive reuse. Together, these principles safeguard the historical and cultural fabric of a nation’s built environment, while sensitively adapting it to meet contemporary needs – ensuring our built heritage remains relevant, functional and sustainable in a rapidly evolving world.
Project Details
Project country
Singapore
COMPLETION DATE
2024
SERVICES RENDERED
- Architecture
- Design Consultancy
- Project Management
- Civil & Structural Engineering
- Mechanical & Electrical Engineering
- Quantity Survey
Interior Design
Building Height
9-Storey
Gross floor area
37,400 m2
Key Features
Increasing Functional Space
In 2014, the Family Courts were restructured into a separate judicial body known as the FJC under the Family Justice Act. Prior to the move to Octagon, FJC was operating from two separate locations. To centralise operations in a single location, additional functional space was required within the Octagon. This was achieved through the careful insertion of floor slabs to create additional floor area within the building’s internal volume. As a result of the move, the number of courtrooms for the FJC increased from 12 to 25, and chambers from 21 to 52 respectively. The expansion also accommodated specialised facilities, including child-friendly interview rooms, quiet rooms for distressed adults and children and vulnerable witness rooms to allow for remote testimony in hearings.
Redefining the Court Space: A Therapeutic Approach
The Family Justice Courts handle sensitive matters, primarily serving vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and women. The transformation was driven by the Therapeutic Justice (TJ) philosophy — a holistic, problem-solving approach that shifts the focus of the judicial process from pure adversarial conflict to achieving positive and sustainable social outcomes for families. Spaces were made warm, comforting and protective. This non-adversarial environment is a core architectural element of the TJ framework, crucial for reducing trauma and fostering the emotional safety required for the court process to be effective.
Revitalised Atrium
At the heart of the atrium are the expressive flying staircases, a prominent architectural feature that has been carefully conserved for both its functional value and historical significance. These staircases provide vertical circulation, reducing dependence on lifts. The atrium of the Octagon features a striking space frame composed of interlocking struts arranged in a geometric pattern, a design choice that reflects the architectural movements of the 1970s. The space frame was conserved and finished with a new coat of paint. A new curved sculptural podium was introduced between the second and third storeys, a contemporary reinterpretation of the original raised platform. This architectural intervention enhances vertical circulation and cross-connectivity within the atrium and to the flying staircases.
Heritage Court
Once known as Court 1 of the State Courts, the courtroom has been restored and renamed as the “Heritage Court”. It features original timber wall slats, which were taken from old courtrooms, and were treated and reused. Approximately 500 square metres of conserved timber slats were used, preserving the timeless appeal of the original wood.