![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/e0adc5759e2791024013570458c9bd6d45f5395a-8192x5566.jpg?w=500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/e0adc5759e2791024013570458c9bd6d45f5395a-8192x5566.jpg?w=800&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 800w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/e0adc5759e2791024013570458c9bd6d45f5395a-8192x5566.jpg?w=1100&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1100w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/e0adc5759e2791024013570458c9bd6d45f5395a-8192x5566.jpg?w=1500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/e0adc5759e2791024013570458c9bd6d45f5395a-8192x5566.jpg?w=2000&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2000w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/e0adc5759e2791024013570458c9bd6d45f5395a-8192x5566.jpg?w=2500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2500w)
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.
![A "modern" prison architecture would consist of a prospective archaeology, constantly projecting new layers of "civilization" on old systems of supervision.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/a0a454dacccdb3bc08d80187d54b58b5350b025e-14377x10060.jpg?rect=482,0,13413,10060&w=500&h=375&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/a0a454dacccdb3bc08d80187d54b58b5350b025e-14377x10060.jpg?rect=482,0,13413,10060&w=800&h=600&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 800w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/a0a454dacccdb3bc08d80187d54b58b5350b025e-14377x10060.jpg?rect=482,0,13413,10060&w=1100&h=825&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1100w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/a0a454dacccdb3bc08d80187d54b58b5350b025e-14377x10060.jpg?rect=482,0,13413,10060&w=1500&h=1125&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/a0a454dacccdb3bc08d80187d54b58b5350b025e-14377x10060.jpg?rect=482,0,13413,10060&w=2000&h=1500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2000w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/a0a454dacccdb3bc08d80187d54b58b5350b025e-14377x10060.jpg?rect=482,0,13413,10060&w=2500&h=1875&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2500w)
![A "modern" prison architecture would consist of a prospective archaeology, constantly projecting new layers of "civilization" on old systems of supervision.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/a0a454dacccdb3bc08d80187d54b58b5350b025e-14377x10060.jpg?w=500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/a0a454dacccdb3bc08d80187d54b58b5350b025e-14377x10060.jpg?w=800&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 800w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/a0a454dacccdb3bc08d80187d54b58b5350b025e-14377x10060.jpg?w=1100&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1100w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/a0a454dacccdb3bc08d80187d54b58b5350b025e-14377x10060.jpg?w=1500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/a0a454dacccdb3bc08d80187d54b58b5350b025e-14377x10060.jpg?w=2000&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2000w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/a0a454dacccdb3bc08d80187d54b58b5350b025e-14377x10060.jpg?w=2500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2500w)
![This organization allows for simultaneous use of the grounds in two shifts: one on the socle for sports, games, gardening; one in the socle.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/1576d407ce2ebac9c9d8e0fd23aadaa25a7c6b0f-2040x3192.jpg?rect=0,831,2040,1530&w=500&h=375&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/1576d407ce2ebac9c9d8e0fd23aadaa25a7c6b0f-2040x3192.jpg?rect=0,831,2040,1530&w=800&h=600&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 800w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/1576d407ce2ebac9c9d8e0fd23aadaa25a7c6b0f-2040x3192.jpg?rect=0,831,2040,1530&w=1100&h=825&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1100w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/1576d407ce2ebac9c9d8e0fd23aadaa25a7c6b0f-2040x3192.jpg?rect=0,831,2040,1530&w=1500&h=1125&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/1576d407ce2ebac9c9d8e0fd23aadaa25a7c6b0f-2040x3192.jpg?rect=0,831,2040,1530&w=2000&h=1500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2000w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/1576d407ce2ebac9c9d8e0fd23aadaa25a7c6b0f-2040x3192.jpg?rect=0,831,2040,1530&w=2500&h=1875&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2500w)
![This organization allows for simultaneous use of the grounds in two shifts: one on the socle for sports, games, gardening; one in the socle.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/1576d407ce2ebac9c9d8e0fd23aadaa25a7c6b0f-2040x3192.jpg?w=500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/1576d407ce2ebac9c9d8e0fd23aadaa25a7c6b0f-2040x3192.jpg?w=800&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 800w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/1576d407ce2ebac9c9d8e0fd23aadaa25a7c6b0f-2040x3192.jpg?w=1100&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1100w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/1576d407ce2ebac9c9d8e0fd23aadaa25a7c6b0f-2040x3192.jpg?w=1500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/1576d407ce2ebac9c9d8e0fd23aadaa25a7c6b0f-2040x3192.jpg?w=2000&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2000w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/1576d407ce2ebac9c9d8e0fd23aadaa25a7c6b0f-2040x3192.jpg?w=2500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2500w)
![Diagram of panopticon prisons.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/2a4d2564231207f43adacffb13db119a609ab38e-745x493.jpg?rect=44,0,657,493&w=500&h=375&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/2a4d2564231207f43adacffb13db119a609ab38e-745x493.jpg?rect=44,0,657,493&w=800&h=600&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 800w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/2a4d2564231207f43adacffb13db119a609ab38e-745x493.jpg?rect=44,0,657,493&w=1100&h=825&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1100w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/2a4d2564231207f43adacffb13db119a609ab38e-745x493.jpg?rect=44,0,657,493&w=1500&h=1125&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/2a4d2564231207f43adacffb13db119a609ab38e-745x493.jpg?rect=44,0,657,493&w=2000&h=1500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2000w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/2a4d2564231207f43adacffb13db119a609ab38e-745x493.jpg?rect=44,0,657,493&w=2500&h=1875&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2500w)
![Diagram of panopticon prisons.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/2a4d2564231207f43adacffb13db119a609ab38e-745x493.jpg?w=500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/2a4d2564231207f43adacffb13db119a609ab38e-745x493.jpg?w=800&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 800w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/2a4d2564231207f43adacffb13db119a609ab38e-745x493.jpg?w=1100&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1100w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/2a4d2564231207f43adacffb13db119a609ab38e-745x493.jpg?w=1500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/2a4d2564231207f43adacffb13db119a609ab38e-745x493.jpg?w=2000&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2000w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/2a4d2564231207f43adacffb13db119a609ab38e-745x493.jpg?w=2500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2500w)
![The centers of Koepel and socle coincide at the street intersection, cancelling the original "eye" of the panopticon.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0d0a4ddce6a94aabebd8fcd88fea8e4e21d0caee-2793x1927.jpg?rect=112,0,2569,1927&w=500&h=375&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0d0a4ddce6a94aabebd8fcd88fea8e4e21d0caee-2793x1927.jpg?rect=112,0,2569,1927&w=800&h=600&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 800w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0d0a4ddce6a94aabebd8fcd88fea8e4e21d0caee-2793x1927.jpg?rect=112,0,2569,1927&w=1100&h=825&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1100w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0d0a4ddce6a94aabebd8fcd88fea8e4e21d0caee-2793x1927.jpg?rect=112,0,2569,1927&w=1500&h=1125&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0d0a4ddce6a94aabebd8fcd88fea8e4e21d0caee-2793x1927.jpg?rect=112,0,2569,1927&w=2000&h=1500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2000w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0d0a4ddce6a94aabebd8fcd88fea8e4e21d0caee-2793x1927.jpg?rect=112,0,2569,1927&w=2500&h=1875&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2500w)
![The centers of Koepel and socle coincide at the street intersection, cancelling the original "eye" of the panopticon.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0d0a4ddce6a94aabebd8fcd88fea8e4e21d0caee-2793x1927.jpg?w=500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0d0a4ddce6a94aabebd8fcd88fea8e4e21d0caee-2793x1927.jpg?w=800&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 800w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0d0a4ddce6a94aabebd8fcd88fea8e4e21d0caee-2793x1927.jpg?w=1100&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1100w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0d0a4ddce6a94aabebd8fcd88fea8e4e21d0caee-2793x1927.jpg?w=1500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0d0a4ddce6a94aabebd8fcd88fea8e4e21d0caee-2793x1927.jpg?w=2000&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2000w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0d0a4ddce6a94aabebd8fcd88fea8e4e21d0caee-2793x1927.jpg?w=2500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2500w)
![As the only visible manifestation of newness inside the Koepel, this intersection offers its residents a way out.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/50ac03fcaa29d18971c242b2307baa2ac31bbf87-5350x3526.jpg?rect=324,0,4701,3526&w=500&h=375&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/50ac03fcaa29d18971c242b2307baa2ac31bbf87-5350x3526.jpg?rect=324,0,4701,3526&w=800&h=600&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 800w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/50ac03fcaa29d18971c242b2307baa2ac31bbf87-5350x3526.jpg?rect=324,0,4701,3526&w=1100&h=825&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1100w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/50ac03fcaa29d18971c242b2307baa2ac31bbf87-5350x3526.jpg?rect=324,0,4701,3526&w=1500&h=1125&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/50ac03fcaa29d18971c242b2307baa2ac31bbf87-5350x3526.jpg?rect=324,0,4701,3526&w=2000&h=1500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2000w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/50ac03fcaa29d18971c242b2307baa2ac31bbf87-5350x3526.jpg?rect=324,0,4701,3526&w=2500&h=1875&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2500w)
![As the only visible manifestation of newness inside the Koepel, this intersection offers its residents a way out.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/50ac03fcaa29d18971c242b2307baa2ac31bbf87-5350x3526.jpg?w=500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/50ac03fcaa29d18971c242b2307baa2ac31bbf87-5350x3526.jpg?w=800&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 800w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/50ac03fcaa29d18971c242b2307baa2ac31bbf87-5350x3526.jpg?w=1100&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1100w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/50ac03fcaa29d18971c242b2307baa2ac31bbf87-5350x3526.jpg?w=1500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/50ac03fcaa29d18971c242b2307baa2ac31bbf87-5350x3526.jpg?w=2000&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2000w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/50ac03fcaa29d18971c242b2307baa2ac31bbf87-5350x3526.jpg?w=2500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2500w)
![The old maintains its iconographic deterrence, liberating the new from having either to ignore or to express the idea of incarceration.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0f54e54f1eadb7140d6721a2fa483df789de6861-1364x945.jpg?rect=52,0,1260,945&w=500&h=375&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0f54e54f1eadb7140d6721a2fa483df789de6861-1364x945.jpg?rect=52,0,1260,945&w=800&h=600&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 800w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0f54e54f1eadb7140d6721a2fa483df789de6861-1364x945.jpg?rect=52,0,1260,945&w=1100&h=825&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1100w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0f54e54f1eadb7140d6721a2fa483df789de6861-1364x945.jpg?rect=52,0,1260,945&w=1500&h=1125&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0f54e54f1eadb7140d6721a2fa483df789de6861-1364x945.jpg?rect=52,0,1260,945&w=2000&h=1500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2000w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0f54e54f1eadb7140d6721a2fa483df789de6861-1364x945.jpg?rect=52,0,1260,945&w=2500&h=1875&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2500w)
![The old maintains its iconographic deterrence, liberating the new from having either to ignore or to express the idea of incarceration.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0f54e54f1eadb7140d6721a2fa483df789de6861-1364x945.jpg?w=500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0f54e54f1eadb7140d6721a2fa483df789de6861-1364x945.jpg?w=800&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 800w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0f54e54f1eadb7140d6721a2fa483df789de6861-1364x945.jpg?w=1100&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1100w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0f54e54f1eadb7140d6721a2fa483df789de6861-1364x945.jpg?w=1500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 1500w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0f54e54f1eadb7140d6721a2fa483df789de6861-1364x945.jpg?w=2000&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2000w, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/5azy6oei/production/0f54e54f1eadb7140d6721a2fa483df789de6861-1364x945.jpg?w=2500&q=80&fit=crop&auto=format 2500w)
1980
Presentation Drawings
Renderings
Model Pictures
First Sketches
Existing Conditions