Schmidt Hammer Lassen-designed structure set for 2013 start

The new International Criminal Court

The new International Criminal Court building, set to start construction in The Hague

The new International Criminal Court

Contracts have been signed paving the way for construction to begin next year on the €147m new International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Danish architect Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s permanent home for the court is expected to be complete by 2015.

Combination Visser & Smit Bouw and Boele & van Eesteren was selected to construct the new building, which will be situated on the former site of the Alexander Barracks in the Dutch city.

The contract was signed on 1 October, the tenth anniversary of the court, which is currently housed in temporary accommodation in the Binckhorst area of The Hague.

Frans Snaaijer, director of the Combination Visser & Smit Bouw and Boele & van Eesteren, said the grouping was pleased to have won such an internationally prestigious contract.

“Transparency, mutual trust and collaboration are the core values that will contribute to a sound basis [for the project],” he said

“We embrace these values and have experienced in the past that these result in very successful projects for all parties involved.”