MEGA Studio, TU Delft, 2016
The MEGA project focused on the design, computation, engineering, and construction management of a high-rise building, completed in a multidisciplinary student group. In this project, Bahareh contributed as the façade designer.
The House of Justice, located in the heart of The Hague, accommodates offices, retail spaces, a hotel, residences, a courthouse, and parking. The tower is functionally divided into two main volumes, reflected in its architectural expression: the courthouse and the multifunctional building. These volumes are visually distinct yet externally connected. Offices, hotel, and residential areas are arranged in separate sub-volumes within the multifunctional building.
The façade concept for the multifunctional building transitions from smooth surfaces at the lower levels to trapezoidal forms at the higher levels, creating varied balcony types tailored to each function while enhancing wind resistance. The courthouse features a flat, translucent façade complemented by an additional panel that diffuses natural light through a glass false ceiling. Light passes first through engraved glass on the façade and is then refracted by solar reflectors installed in the false ceiling, illuminating corridors and casting a symbolic glow behind the judge in the courtroom.
The project demonstrates how façade design can integrate aesthetics, functionality, and environmental performance across complex high-rise programs.