© OMA

Koepel Panopticon Prison

In 1979 we were asked to "study" the possible renovation of a Panopticon prison - one of the three ever built on the principle in its pure form: a circle of cells with the all-seeing eye of the observatory as its centre. The 100-year old building had to be equipped "for at least another 50 years" and "to embody present day insights into the treatment of prisoners…"

In the 1950s, when the current ideology discovered the pavilion model of prisons whereby, supposedly for psychological reasons, the inmates were subdivided in small groups, the building had been condemned and its demolition planned. Now, for a variety of reasons - its uniqueness as a purely theoretical building, its undeniable architectural quality, the convenience that it existed, reinforced by the fact that the prison was surprisingly popular with its inmates, who like the spaciousness of its vast interior - it was decided that perhaps it should continue to exist.

Read more

Location

Arnhem, Netherlands

Client

The Government Buildings Agency (Rijksgebouwendienst)

Year

1980

Status

Commissioned Study

Program

Infrastructure

Team

A "modern" prison architecture would consist of a prospective archaeology, constantly projecting new layers of "civilization" on old systems of supervision.
A "modern" prison architecture would consist of a prospective archaeology, constantly projecting new layers of "civilization" on old systems of supervision.
This organization allows for simultaneous use of the grounds in two shifts: one on the socle for sports, games, gardening; one in the socle.
This organization allows for simultaneous use of the grounds in two shifts: one on the socle for sports, games, gardening; one in the socle.
Diagram of panopticon prisons.
Diagram of panopticon prisons.
The centers of Koepel and socle coincide at the street intersection, cancelling the original "eye" of the panopticon.
The centers of Koepel and socle coincide at the street intersection, cancelling the original "eye" of the panopticon.
As the only visible manifestation of newness inside the Koepel, this intersection offers its residents a way out.
As the only visible manifestation of newness inside the Koepel, this intersection offers its residents a way out.
The old maintains its iconographic deterrence, liberating the new from having either to ignore or to express the idea of incarceration.
The old maintains its iconographic deterrence, liberating the new from having either to ignore or to express the idea of incarceration.

  • 1980

  • Presentation Drawings

  • Renderings

    All of the facilities requiered for the Koepel to function as "home" – living quarters, dining rooms, bathrooms – are concentrated in two external satellites attached to the rings.
    All of the facilities requiered for the Koepel to function as "home" – living quarters, dining rooms, bathrooms – are concentrated in two external satellites attached to the rings.
    The socle establishes a new datum: the former ground floor becomes the roof of the socle.
    The socle establishes a new datum: the former ground floor becomes the roof of the socle.

  • Model Pictures

  • First Sketches

  • Existing Conditions

infrastructure
~2000m²
1980s
team
Nearby