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Central Public Works Department,
A Handbook of Landscape - A Guide
(2013); Ministry of Urban Development, ‘Chapter 6 - Sustainability Guidelines’ in
Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation Guidelines
(2015), p.199.
U.S. General Services Administration Public Buildings Service,
The Site Security Design Guide,
pp. 24-25.
Harmonised Guidelines 2021, p. 57-63, Chapter 3.
NBC (2016), p. 29, Figure 5.
NCMS (2012).
NBC (2016), Section 4.5.2.
NBC (2016), Section 4.6.2 and Annex H, Clauses 6.4.2.2 and 6.8.1.5.
Harmonised Guidelines 2021, p. 67.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs,
Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India (2021)
Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, ‘Built Environment’
[“Built Environment Guidelines”]
Harmonised Guidelines 2021.
Harmonised Guidelines 2021, Section 3.6.
Built Environment Guidelines.
Harmonised Guidelines 2021, Section 3.5.3.
Harmonised Guidelines 2021, Section 3.5.
NBC 2016, Vol. I Part 4: Fire and Life Safety, Section 4.2.
NBC 2016, Vol. I Part 4: Fire and Life Safety, Section 4.2.7, p. 27.
NBC 2016, Vol. I Part 4: Fire and Life Safety, Section 2.24, p. 9.
NBC 2016, Section 4.2.
NBC 2016, Section 4.4.2.4.3.2.
Harmonised Guidelines 2021, Section 4.2.
NBC 2016, Part 8: Building Services, Sections 5, 7.1-7.2.4.
NBC 2016, Part 8: Building Services, Section 4.2.2.1.
Ted Prestogeorge, ‘Courtroom design for handicap access’ (
Fentress Incorporated,
2 November 2017)
Harmonised Guidelines 2021, Section 4.7.9.
NBC 2016, Section 4.4.2.4.3.5.
Harmonised Guidelines 2021, Section 3.7.
‘Justice for All: Designing Accessible Courthouses’
(U.S. Access Board)
[“Designing Accessible Courthouses”]
Neighbourhood
Depending on the purpose of the site, this may be a region of one or more blocks around the Complex.
Streetscapes, open areas, parking lots, and other frequently used facilities may be included.
Standoff Perimeter
A security perimeter may be used to keep explosives carried by vehicles at a distance, minimising potential damage and harm.
The perimeter may need a secured or unsecured standoff, depending on the risk analysis.
Site Access and Parking
Access to the Court Complex site may be provided by, and controlled by, a number of components and services. Both vehicles and visitors may be inspected in this area.
Site
In order to help discourage or stop the destruction of or harm to the Court Complex once inside the security perimeter, the site zone may include an additional layer of protection or hardening.
The site zone's main function, with a sufficiently fortified perimeter, is to serve more as a welcoming public space, with amenities, programmes, and activities that benefit residents, visitors, and building occupants.
Building Envelope
At the building envelope level, illumination, additional security monitoring by security people or cameras, and control of HVAC vents and air intakes may be incorporated.
Management and Building Operations
Modifications to the Court building's layout and programs, such as relocating high-risk residents inside the building, may be undertaken to strengthen security.
Judges
Permanent
All Access
Permanent Court Staff (Refer to
Annexure 4
All Access / Access with Permissions (depending on cadre and scope of duties)
Contractual Staff (Refer to
On Contract
Lawyers
On Bar Roll
Access with Permissions
Security Service Providers
Background-Checked ID Card
Canteen & Housekeeping Services
Background-Checked ID Card. On Contract
Bi-Annual Access
Shopkeepers & Other Amenities Providers (Refer to
On Tender / On Deputation
Bi-Annual Access to Service Zone
Maintenance Service Providers
Need-based Access
Litigants
Day Access
Accused / Undertrials
Witnesses
Escorting Police Officers / Security Staff
Vulnerable Witnesses
Accredited Media
General Public
The entry and exit points for Judges must be private and access-controlled, and restricted for use by the Judges and required Court Staff (with permission).
The Judges’ entry and exit points must be fully secure and no unauthorised entry must be allowed beyond the security transition point mapped for this area.
All corridors and pathways leading to the chambers must be under CCTV surveillance.
The main entrance to the Courtroom must be a public entrance, for Advocates, litigants, and Court Staff, with adequate non-threatening or non-intimidating security provisions. For more details, please refer to
Annexure 3
In instances where certain spaces are restricted to specific categories of users, these must be secured and only authorised personnel must be allowed beyond the security transition point mapped for this area.
These entry and exit points must be sanitised, and persons must be allowed into the building only after adequate security screening.
All corridors and pathways within these spaces must be under CCTV surveillance.
Wherever possible, specific corridors may be designated for Advocates, for ease of movement between various spaces in the Court Complex.
Entrance and exit points for the Accused must be private and fully restricted, with maximum security provisions, for the use of the Accused and accompanying police authorities/security personnel. For more details, please refer to
This area must be fully secured and no unauthorised entry should be allowed beyond the security transition point mapped for this area.
All corridors and pathways within the segregated paths used by the Accused must be under CCTV surveillance & continuously manned using triggers based on a Video Management System. For more details, please refer to
. Automatic sirens should be invoked in case of any loitering or alarm detected by pre-set triggers.
The segregated paths taken by the Accused should be designed to be less authoritarian and humane, through the use of soft landscape, naturally-lit corridors, greenery and other non-intimidating design features.
Entrance and exit points for the Vulnerable Witnesses must be segregated, secure, and welcoming. Security interventions must be non-threatening and unobtrusive.
The segregated paths leading to the building entrance must be designed to be comfortable and safe through use of greenery, and landscaped features, and provision of natural light and ventilation.
This area must be provided with additional security, and no unauthorised entry must be allowed beyond the security transition point mapped for this area.
The pathway must be designed to be more humane with the use of soft landscapes, naturally-lit corridors, greenery, and other non-intimidating design features similar to design provided within the VWDC Complex. For more details of trauma-informed design considerations, refer to
Section 2.3.A.
All corridors and pathways within these spaces must be under CCTV surveillance, which must be continuously manned based on a Video Management System to prevent the entry of unauthorised personnel.
A separate entrance and exit point may be provided for service providers including building maintenance contractors for plumbing, lighting, electrical, etc., and food catering, cleaning/janitorial services, waste management services etc.
This entry and exit must be manned by security personnel and equipped with adequate security infrastructure such as CCTV cameras and controlled access.
The loading & unloading areas must be specially manned with mobile handheld security elements like metal detection wands, etc., to mitigate any risks or threats.
Specific Design Considerations
The site entrances must have clear pedestrian pathways and connectivity to the Court building, with adequate illumination, ramps where required, and Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (“TGSIs”) for independent and safe access.
Vehicles and pedestrians must have separate entry/exit points at the site, with separate gates for vehicles wherever possible, to prevent conflict.
Entrances must be clearly demarcated and have accessible and tactile wayfinding signage, including the name of the Court Complex, gate numbers, etc.
The spaces/zones accessed by the Accused must be secure, while ensuring that security interventions ensure that the conditions provided are adequately humane.
The security interventions in all spaces/zones accessed by litigants & other stakeholders should be safe and comfortable without being intimidating.
Adjacencies
The main security cabin/lounge must be located at the primary entrance to the Court Complex, to control the flow of stakeholders moving through the site.
At other secondary entry and exit points, manned stations must be provided for security officials to conduct direct security checks.
During temporary instances where high security is needed, additional manning stations may be set up.
The security cabin and manned stations must be designed to be well-ventilated and accessible to diverse user groups. Provision should be made for adequate ergonomic and comfortable furniture including desks and chairs, and storage space for official documents as well as personal effects belonging to the security personnel.
Adequate lighting and visibility must be ensured in and around the security cabins and manned stations to enhance safety and security.
All security stations must have access to or be in close proximity to accessible washrooms and drinking water facilities.
The security cabin and manned stations must be designed to ensure orderly and unhindered access to the Court Complex for all users through controlled vehicle movement, based on access privileges, after conducting requisite security checks. The design should also incorporate measures for crowd control and queuing management to prevent congestion and ensure an unhindered flow of people through security checkpoints.
The design should ensure privacy and confidentiality in sensitive security zones such as screening and inspection areas.
The security cabin at the site entrance must have provision for an entry book, computer system and IT infrastructure, and a web camera system for a Visitor Management System (“VMS”) if required. The security cabin must also have adequate security provisions in the form of security cameras and emergency communication system to ensure prompt response. For further details regarding security systems and equipment to be provided, refer to
The entrance to the security cabin must have a clear width of 900 mm to ensure accessibility for diverse user groups.
At least one of the security screeners should have no level difference or barriers to facilitate screening for wheelchair users.
Tactile pavers, audio assistance and appropriate signage must be provided at the entrance.
The Court Complex must have designated external paths for vehicular and pedestrian movement from the entrance.
External walkways must have a minimum width of
1200 mm
for one-way travel and a width of
1800 mm
for two-way walkways. In exceptional cases, where there may be obstacles on the walkway such as around trees, poles, etc., the minimum width must be
1500mm.
The walkway must not have a gradient exceeding 1:20. This gradient requirement is also applicable to the cross slope.
For walkways greater than 60 m in length, resting spaces with street furniture may be provided at every
30 m
length of the walkway. The height of the seats must be between
450 mm-500 mm
with a backrest and handrests at
700 mm
height.
Covered walkways must have a minimum clear height of
2200 mm.
The walkways must have grab rails on both sides wherever the land terrain is sloping or undulating. The grab rails must be of contrasting colours, fixed at two levels ranging between
700 to 900 mm
The walkway must be smooth, hard, and have a surface made of slip-resistant materials.
The walkways must not have any obstructions or obstacles on them. In case of levels, grooves, or gratings, steps may be taken to ensure that they do not become inaccessible to diverse users.
In such cases where there may be level differences, the walkway must be highlighted with contrasting colours or demarcated with a distinct material change.
The walkways must be well illuminated with lighting fixtures at a minimum height of
4 m
from ground level, to ensure accessibility for persons with low vision.
Continuous TGSI must be laid on the access routes to make them accessible to all users with visual impairments. The TGSIs must not be placed on the edge of an access route with a minimum distance of
300 mm
from any level change or any obstruction.
Within the Court building, all pathways must be clear and free of obstructions for all persons including Persons with Disabilities.
In cases where there may be level-differences, a ramp with adequate slope must be provided in the corridor. The ramp must be highlighted with contrasting colours or demarcated with a distinct material change.
A floor plan on each floor, demarcating the location of all spaces and facilities on the floor along with the emergency facilities, must be provided to facilitate easy access especially for those who may be visiting the Court Complex for the first time.
Where there is a reduction in the width of a corridor (for example, due to a projecting column or duct), the resulting clear width must not be less than
and the projection must be guarded.
Within office work areas, the width for accessible routes such as corridors must be a minimum of
900 mm
. In long paths of travel, resting areas must be provided at frequent intervals not exceeding
50 m.
The internal corridors must have adequate fire safety measures such as overhead sprinklers, fire extinguishers, etc., at adequate intervals. Additionally, the means of egress must not be lesser in width than the width of internal access ways/exit doorways.
For exit access, the length of a dead-end corridor must not exceed
15000 mm
. For assembly occupancy, such as the Courtroom, the dead-end corridor length must not exceed
6000 mm
Each Accused waiting area (
Section 2.2.D.
), lock-up (
Section 2.7.A.
) and Visiting Room for the Accused (
Section 2.7.B.
) should be access-controlled with a biometric system, with an auto-lock feature within a pre-set time duration. Automatic sirens may be invoked in case of any loitering or alarm detected by the pre-set triggers.
Design Considerations
All building entrances and exits must be designed taking into consideration all universal accessibility principles such automated doors or power-assisted doors, etc.
All entrances and exits must have a clear door width with adequate illumination, ramps where required, and TGSIs for independent and safe access.
The main entrance to the Court building must lead to a welcoming, user-friendly and well-lit lobby space with adequate pause space.
The exit access to fire-resistant evacuation lifts and refuge areas on each floor should be designed to provide accessibility without steps and signposted with internationally recognized symbols of accessibility.
The entry and exit points should be strategically managed alongside other allied services, such as segregated access to private zones, to ensure a comfortable environment for all users.
In case of any noise sources near the entrance like traffic, trains, etc., the entrance must be planned in such a manner as to avoid the noise transferring into the building.
A legible and accessible information desk must be made available at close proximity to the entrance.
A detailed map of the Court Complex and the stairs and fire escapes showcasing the layout must be provided, so as to ensure easy movement for all users.
Case display screens and a large electronic display panel displaying the Court numbers must be provided in the entry area.
A notice board must also be provided in the entrance hall for displaying important notices.
Unless otherwise specified, all the exits and exit passageways to exit discharge must have a clear ceiling height of at least
2.4 m
. However, the height of the exit door should be at least
2.0 m.
Adequate fire safety measures, sirens and evacuation plans must be in place to ensure a quick and safe evacuation in emergencies through the exit points.
Objectives
Provide accessible parking space
for ease of access for Persons with Disabilities;
Ensure unobstructed and organised movement for all users
of the Court Complex through design of segregated, secure, and adequate parking spaces;
Ensure systematic vehicular movement
by having separate entry and exit points to the parking area for different kinds of vehicles; and
Provide enhanced security
ensuring coordination with the security personnel and the Parking & Visitor Management Systems.
Each flight of stairs in the Court Complex must have a maximum of 12 steps.
The stairs must have a minimum clear width of
1500 mm
The height of each riser must be a maximum of
150 mm
high, and the tread must be a minimum of
300 mm deep
Open risers and transparent treads must not be used in the design of any staircase.
The stair landing must be a minimum of
deep. All stair landings must be free of all obstacles and the dimensions must be clear of any door opening.
In order to ensure fire safety, all emergency exit doors must not open directly upon a flight of stairs, and all such entries must be through a landing, so that such doors do not impede the movement of people descending from higher floors.
For non-naturally ventilated areas, at the entrance to the stairwell, fire doors with 120 min fire resistance rating must be provided to prevent spread of fire and smoke.
Additionally, a fire shaft with a protected area of 120 min fire resistance rating, comprising protected lobby, staircase and fireman's lift, connected directly to exit discharge or through exit passageway, must be provided.
If the fire exit is an internal or an external staircase, it must have access to either a street, a verandah, an exit passageway, a refuge area or a terrace or roof of the building.
The minimum width of the internal fire exit staircase in the Court Complex must be
All external fire exit staircases must be directly connected to the ground and not be inclined at more than a 45 degree angle from the horizontal plane. It must have a straight flight with a minimum
width.
An adequate number of lifts must be provided within the Court Complex, which may be determined by the size of the Court Complex as well as the number of floors.
All lifts within the Court Complex must have a minimum size of
1900 mm x 1900 mm
to ensure that the lift is accessible to diverse user groups. In such cases where adequate space is not available, the lift must be a minimum size of
1500 mm x 1500 mm
The lift door must have a clear opening of a minimum of
. The time of the automatically closing doors must be a minimum of 5 seconds, with the closing speed not exceeding 0.25 m/sec.
The handrails provided within the lifts must be at an adequate height to be accessible for diverse user groups.
The lifts must have audible announcements, a vision panel for persons with visual impairments, and emergency intercom facilities.
For buildings having a height of
15 m
or more, at least one lift must be provided which meets the requirements of a fireman's lift.
For non-naturally ventilated areas, at the entrance to the lift lobby, fire doors with 120 minutes fire resistance rating must be provided to prevent spread of fire and smoke.
Warning signs must be provided at the appropriate locations against the use of the lifts during a fire.
The Court Complex may also be equipped with wheelchair stair-lifts
or platform lifts in instances where ramps and lifts cannot be provided.
All ramps in the Court Complex must have an adequate gradient, sufficient space for manoeuvring, edge protections, grab rails, and a non-slippery surface.
All ramps must have a minimum clear width of
, with a maximum gradient of
1:12
Slip-resistant, round edge handrails must be designed for all ramps to ensure a comfortable grip. Handrails must be installed at a height of
750 mm to 900 mm
above the floor level.
All handrails must be designed in a contrasting colour scheme with the background.
The slope of a ramp must not exceed 1 in 12 (8 percent), and any changes in travel direction in the ramp must be preceded by a landing of
1.5 m × 1.5 m
size.
Where the ramp is not a part of an accessible route, the ramp landing is not required to exceed a minimum of
1250 mm
in the direction of travel, provided that the ramp has a straight run.
Kerb Ramps
The Court Complex must be equipped with kerb ramps from the parking area or alighting area for persons using public transport, to ensure easy access into the Court Complex.
The gradient of a kerb ramp must have a minimum clear width of
with a maximum gradient of
. The flared sides of the kerb ramp must have a maximum gradient of
1:10
Internal Ramps
For spaces within the Court Complex where there may not be adequate space to build a ramp, portable ramps must be provided to make the space accessible for all user groups.
Image 47: Examples of accessible kerb ramps
Image Credit
369 Ochre Studio
Image 48: Examples of accessible internal ramps within the building
External Ramps
All external ramps must be designed to have shelters over them, to ensure protection from all weather elements such as rain, snow, or extreme sunlight and to ensure all-weather accessibility and usability of the ramps.
All external ramps must be designed with the proper slope and drainage, and slip resistant surfaces, to mitigate the risks of water accumulation. Regular maintenance must also be carried out to prevent wear and tear over time.
Landings on the ramps must be provided at specific intervals to ensure safety and usability of all external ramps.
Users
Advocates
Litigants and visiting public
Court Staff
Jail vans and police vehicle drivers
Users of reserved accessible parking
Service providers at loading zones
Ambulance drivers
Ensure that the horizontal access circulation routes within the Court Complex are logical, understandable, usable, and as direct as possible in order to provide
easy access to all key facilities;
Provide
well-maintained circulation routes
that are free of obstacles and have adequate headroom to ensure that all stakeholders can access the spaces within the Court Complex without obstructions; and
Ensure
seamless, continuous movement
between spaces of the Court Complex by avoiding thresholds at doors, or level differences between rooms on the same floor.
Ensure that the requirements of various stakeholders for
independently using and accessing spaces
within the Court are taken into consideration for all vertical circulation routes;
Consider the
needs of diverse user groups including first-time visitors
by providing easily locatable and accessible staircases, lifts, etc.,
supported with well-defined signage and a simplified building plan;
Ensure that users have
easy and direct access from the arrival/landing points
, stairs, and lift lobbies to the respective spaces to be accessed within the Court Complex;
Facilitate movement between floors
, by equipping the building with adequate staircases, ramps, lifts, and escalators;
and
clear demarcations with signages
to direct different stakeholders to facilities that may be used in emergency situations such as a fire.
Public zones
These are areas accessible to all users, including members of the public, litigants, Advocates, and staff. The entrances may have security provisions; however, such provisions must not restrict the movement of user groups under general circumstances. Courtrooms (
Section 2.1
), general waiting areas (
Section 2.2
), and common amenities (
Section 3
) fall within this category.
Private zones
These are areas accessible to certain categories of stakeholders based on their designation/role in the Court. The entrances may be segregated by additional security and accessible to the authorised users such as Judges, Vulnerable Witnesses and designated staff members. The spaces discussed in
Sections 2.3-2.7
fall within this category.
Detention zones
These are areas accessible to selected/specific stakeholders in order to limit their interaction with other stakeholders. The entrances are segregated with additional security as well as security personnel accompanying the Accused, Undertrials or persons in custody. Accused waiting areas (
Section 2.2.D
) and facilities provided for the Accused (
Section 2.7
The Court Complex must have designated drop-off and pick-up zones.
The drop-off and pick-up bays must be on level ground with clear access, bay markings, and signposting.
The passenger drop-off and pick-up zones must have a vehicular pull-up bay of
2500 mm x 6100 mm
, with an access aisle along the length of the pull-up bay.
Designated parking spaces must be marked around the main Court Complex, with space allocated for specific users including the Judges, Court staff, ambulances, etc.
The designated spaces must be secured with parking cones, signages, etc.
Segregated and secure parking spaces must be provided for Vulnerable Witnesses, and separately for vehicles in connection with the Accused such as police vans, alighting area for prison vans, etc.
Orderly and unhindered access, with adequate signage, to the predetermined parking must be provided for all users.
Vehicle movement must be controlled based on access privileges, after scrutinising the same using the security implements needed as noted in
Local zoning regulations must be taken into account for providing parking spaces in the Court Complex.
All parking spaces must be designed to incorporate eco-friendly features like permeable paving, rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient lighting, etc., to minimise the parking facility's ecological impact.
The Court Complex must have adequate segregated and secure parking spaces for different kinds of vehicles (four-wheelers, two-wheelers, etc.,) and for different categories of users.
The parking area must have assigned parking for special vehicles such as vehicles of the CRPF Jawans manning the Court Complex, ambulances, fire engines, jail vans designated to transport Undertrial prisoners, etc.
Space must be allocated in a secured parking area around the main Court Complex for Judges. The area designated for Judges’ parking must have additional security along with a rest area for the accompanying drivers.
An adequate number of designated parking spaces must be reserved for the parking of vehicles of all Court Staff.
Spaces must be allocated in the identified parking area of the main Court Complex for litigants, Advocates, and other visitors to the Court.
Parking spaces must be secured with parking cones and other elements as shown in
A covered pathway from the parking area to the entrance of the Court building must be provided, to ensure all-weather movement of all users.
A Parking Management System must be put in place to ensure that the reserved parking spaces for the designated user groups are unoccupied and free of any barriers.
Wherever possible, the basement area of the Court Complex may be used for the parking Complex.
In such cases, all doors leading to the basement must be protected with fire doors with a minimum fire rating of 120, except for exit discharge doors from the basements.
The basement must also be equipped with adequate smoke ventilation through adequate air ducts and exhaust fans.
Image 33: Examples of Segregated and Secure Parking for Ambulance
Image 34: Examples of Segregated and Secure Parking
The Court Complex must have reserved parking with adequate facilities for diverse users including the elderly, families with children, Persons with Disabilities, etc., with clearly identified signage.
A minimum of one accessible parking bay with a shelter must be provided in the Court building. However, buildings with higher occupancy must follow the norm as given in the table below.
The designated parking area must be located at a maximum of
from the building entrance.
Wherever the accessible parking is at a distance from the approach view point, legible signage system and access routes must be provided.
The parking bay must be on level ground with clear access, bay markings and signposting.
Reserved parking bays for adapted scooters, tricycles or other personal mobility devices (in two-wheeler category) must have a minimum bay size of
3000 mm x 2400 mm
The accessible car parking bay must have a minimum size of
5000 mm x 3600 mm
A Parking Management System may be put in place to ensure that the reserved bays are unoccupied and free of barriers, and to prevent unauthorised use.
Staff assigned to the accessible parking area must be adequately trained to sensitive responses to diverse user groups.
Loading zones must be located behind the building and accessed by a service road. At a loading dock, large boxes and equipment are unloaded before being taken into the building or a freight elevator (if needed).
Adequate security must be provided as goods brought into the building must be screened.
Direct approach to the loading/unloading docks may be avoided, as an approaching vehicle could speed up to a point where it could force entry.
The parking area must be separate from the public parking facilities, with adequate signage, and must be enclosed by a secure perimeter with access control measures (and any other security measures) to prevent unauthorised entry and safeguard the vans. For further details, please refer to
Annexure 3.
Designated entry and exit points must be provided to enable seamless movement of prison vans, minimising congestion. Clear and well-defined emergency evacuation routes must be provided to allow swift response in case of emergencies or security threats.
The parking area must be located in close proximity to the pathway leading up to the designated Accused pathways to minimise the time and distance for transporting Accused Persons through the Court Complex.
The parking facilities must be designed to ensure compliance with all accessibility standards, including designated spaces and ramps for persons with disabilities.
The parking facility must be designed to accommodate peak demand, considering the number of expected prison vans based on Court caseload and hearing schedules.
Provide for universal accessibility
for diverse user groups, including Persons with Disabilities, the elderly, expectant mothers, children, families, all genders, etc., in facilities such as parking, public amenities, etc.;
Consider the various users
of the Court Complex in site planning, by mapping them vis-à-vis their privileges and access needed for their personalised movement, to ensure their privacy and address security concerns;
Ensure ease of orientation
within the site by providing accessible wayfinding and signage/information systems;
Ensure that a strategic, effective and long-term flexible approach is adopted for the site planning to
anticipate future needs and ensure adaptable design
Incorporate site-level security operations and fire safety measures
in the site plan, to mitigate/minimise the potential risks;
Ensure effective security surveillance
and efficiency by providing spaces for crowds and people queuing within the Court Complex site to avoid disorder and congestion;
Ensure that the approach to the site is designed to
accommodate sustainable transportation options
including walking, bicycling and mass transit, and last mile connectivity; and
Ensure sustainable site planning
and landscaping guidelines, including environmentally sensitive and context driven design responses.
The site design of the Court Complex must take local land use and zonal/building regulations into account.
Site design must consider all universal design principles and guidelines.
Site-specific conditions such as site context, neighbouring development, local climate, geography, seismic zones, site acoustics, etc., and long-term climate change impacts such as drought, flood, wind, and wildfire risks, must be taken into consideration to determine the building location and orientation, location of services and other facilities such as parking etc.
The physical characteristics of the site such as the topography, existing natural features, proximity to major traffic corridors, large utilities such as stormwater drains, etc., and the presence of physical barriers should be considered in orienting and locating the buildings and site security.
The design must incorporate local community symbols and regional requirements to ensure that the design is more contextually responsive.
The site plan must be built to accommodate space for amenities such as post office, bank/ATM facilities, medical supplies, etc., especially if these amenities are not present in proximity to the site location.
The site plan must provide for adequate public sanitary facilities, including accessible toilets and drinking water facilities within the Court Complex site.
The site plan must ensure appropriate locations for Diesel Generator (“DG”) sets and other building services equipment such as the pump room, fire extinguisher, water point, water tanks, etc.
As shown in
Figure 20
, the site security zones must follow the physical layout of a site from the outside (Zone 1) to the inside (Zone 6).
Every zone must be designed to provide chances to improve the site's functionality and overall appearance while strengthening security. For example, Zone 1 must take into account a site's location within the surrounding area. For each subsequent zone, the potential to safeguard the Complex by altering its perimeter, circulation, and programme must be taken into account based on the surrounding physical context.
Court Staff, Lawyers and Litigants (Main gate)
Accused and Undertrials in criminal cases
Service Providers
Access to Public Zone
Access to Service Zone
Ensure that the entrances, exits, and paths adhere to
universal accessibility principles
such as adequate colour contrast, legibility, etc.
For Vulnerable Witnesses and Accused Persons, ensure that the segregated entrances are planned in such a manner that
they do not cross paths
in their entire journey throughout the Court Complex;
Ensure that all entrances to the Court Complex have
adequate security provisions;
Ensure that the security provisions at the entrances are
non-intimidating and sensitive
to the needs of diverse users; and
Ensure that all Court users, including those on foot or using vehicles,
follow the designated segregated paths
as described in
Section 1.2.A
from the manned stations at transition points to the Court building.
Users of the Court Complex
PART C – THE HANDBOOK
PART C
utilises the design principles described in
PART B, Section 2
to highlight how a principles-based approach to Court planning would work in practice.
Section 1
discusses the various aspects of spatial planning which must be considered from the start of the design process, including overall site design and smooth circulation of stakeholders throughout the Court Complex.
Section 2
dives into the various specific spaces within the Court Complex, and provides an ideal vision in line with the principles-based approach.
SPACE PLANNING AND CIRCULATION
Space planning and circulation needs consideration at every stage of design of a building: from inception to implementation, operation, occupancy, and post-occupancy. The planning and organisation of functions and activities and the circulation system play a vital role in ensuring safety and ease of movement through the Court Complex, at both the micro- and macro-levels.
The planning and design decisions at the building and site levels should consider both horizontal and vertical parameters of circulation for secure, efficient, and optimal utilisation of space within the Court Complex.
1.1.
Site Design
The overall functioning and visual appeal of a Court Complex depends on effective site design. Site design requires a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of local contextual requirements. Strategic site planning objectives must be balanced with available local facilities, and take into account the surrounding environment and infrastructure.
Table 1:
Six Security Zones
Zones
Name
Specifics
Figure 20: Six security zones represented on a hypothetical site
Figure 21: Site design and security strategies
1.2.
Entrances and Exits
The design of the Court Complex must be planned taking the movement of various user groups throughout the Complex into consideration, and providing segregated and secure entry and exit points.
Figure 22: Segregated entry and exit at site level and building Complex
The security requirements of the Court Complex must be determined by undertaking a user mapping, to ensure that the specific needs of security and access of all stakeholders are met. The first step in such an exercise is to ensure that all distinct stakeholders of the system are identified, and their vulnerabilities and threat perceptions are mapped. Specific security elements must then be introduced to mitigate and manage the risks.
Five separate entrance/exit points
must be provided for the following categories of users:
The different
categories of access privileges
may be granted as follows:
Table 2:
Access requirements for the different categories of users.
Stakeholder
Access Type
Privileges
Everyday Users of the Court Complex
Other Stakeholders
Figure 23: Segregated circulation of various user groups
A. Site Entrance & Exit
I. Security Cabin and Manned Stations
B. Building Entrance & Exit
Image 29: Examples of building entry and exit
At the micro level, within the Court Complex, five types of building entry/exit points may be distinguished based on the categories of users:
I. Judges
Figure 24: Typical plan of segregated entrance for Judges
II. Advocates, Litigants, and Court Staff
Figure 25: Typical plan of main entrance for Advocates, litigants, and Court Staff
III. Accused Persons
IV. Vulnerable Witnesses
Figure 26: Typical plan of segregated entrance for Vulnerable Witnesses
V. Service Providers
Image 30: Examples of turnstiles used for security purposes
1.3.
Parking
The Court Complex must have adequate space for parking of the vehicles of all users. Parking facilities must be accessible, segregated, and secure to ensure a smooth flow of movement. Further, the parking staff must be sensitised and trained towards responding to diverse user groups.
Image 31: Example of Parking Management System
A. Drop-Off and Pick-Up Zones
Image 32: Examples of Drop-Off and Pick-Up Zones
B. Segregated and Secure Parking
C. Reserved Accessible Parking
Image 35: Number of accessible parking bays needed in a building
Source
Harmonised Guidelines 2021, p. 67
Image 36: Examples of Accessible Family Parking
Image 37: Examples of Accessible Parking
Figure 28: Plan for accessible reserved parking
D. Loading Zones
E. Parking for Prison Vans
1.4.
Horizontal Circulation Routes: Walkways and Corridors
The site and building organisation are defined by a public, private and detention circulation system as follows:
A. External Environment: Walkways
B. Internal Environment: Corridors
Figure 30: Accessible corridor widths for diverse user groups
Adapted from the Harmonised Guidelines 2021, p. 49
Image 40: Examples of accessible corridors
1.5.
Vertical Circulation: Staircases, Lifts, and Ramps
The vertical circulation routes in the Court Complex are demarcated into the public, private, and detention zone circulation system (Refer to
Section 1.4.
A. Staircases
Figure 31: Details for accessible staircases
Adapted from the Harmonised Guidelines 2021, p.165
Image 41: Specifications for staircases
NBC 2016, section 4.2.9
Image 42: Examples of accessible staircase and escalator
Image 43: Example of staircase wheelchair for emergency evacuation
B. Lifts
Image 44: Examples of accessible lifts
Figure 32: Details for corridors, door clearance, and lifts
Harmonised Guidelines 2021
Image 45: Details for hydraulic lifts for witness and Accused box
Courtroom Design for Handicap Access
Image 46: Examples of mechanical lifts in the witness box
Courthouse: Courtroom | WBDG - Whole Building Design Guide
C. Ramps
Figure 33: Plan of accessible external ramp
Image 49: Examples of accessible external ramps with shelter
References
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