Author of case study: Marcela Torres Molano

Geopolitical location of space:
Cra. 7 #63-44
Bogotá, Cundinamarca

Extant? Yes

Architect:
Architect unknown

Timeframe RJ/TJ process in this space:

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (in Spanish: Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz, JEP) has been in force in Colombia since March 2017, when it was approved in the Senate. It handles crimes committed during the armed conflict up until the signature of the Colombian Peace Accord in 2016.

Background information:

The JEP is the Colombian transitional justice mechanism through which FARC members, members of the Colombian military forces, and third parties who have participated in the Colombian armed conflict are investigated and put on trial. It is a space for the encounters of offenders, survivors, and judges of the internal conflict.  Housed in a repurposed building, the JEP was created to ensure the victims’ rights to justice and contribute to reparation.

Is transitional justice actually taking place in this space?

Yes, the JEP is the main court for transitional justice in Colombia. It is the legal mechanism in charge of investigating the crimes committed during the conflict. Its spaces are used for encounters and public releases of the official reports. The court is focused on the most serious and representative crimes of the conflict, including the crimes committed by military forces and government officers. Within the scope of the court’s mandate, 38 magistrates will handle the crimes of more than 6.000 offenders, a process which includes encounters with survivors.

Is this space designed/arranged for safe listening?

Yes, the rooms where encounters take place have been designed specifically to support active listening and eye contact between participants. 

Who is the audience/the intended participants for this space?

Perpetrators of serious crimes, including FARC members, military personnel, government officials, and survivors.

How or to what extent is this space public?

The official reports produced by the JEP and certain encounters are made public and are used to foster social dialogue on truth, reparation, and non-repetition of the conflict.

Physical/factual description of space:

Building Torre Squadra
Architect: Unknown
Built area: 30,000 m2
Office area: 16,000 m2
Floor area: 1,400 m2 per floor
Lobby: 600 m2

It is a 12-storey building in a commercial area of the city. It is a building of contemporary architecture with glass façades, a terrace and a heliport on the last floor. It has five underground floors for parking with a capacity of 340 cars. On the second and third floors they have built  five special courtrooms with a circular shape that allows eye contact between offenders and survivors. According to the executive secretary of the JEP, the circle shape has a symbolic meaning in comparison to  the regular courtroom; it allows  both the responsibility of the offenders and the emotions of survivors  to be seen. The circle shape grants an opportunity for dialogue. “Architecture  should never segregate or inhibit this opportunity…; therefore forgiveness and reconciliation processes  must happen in a proper space” (Semana, 2018).

The building includes a technological system that allows the live presentations of encounters all over the Colombian territory to ensure the participation of all survivors and population. It also has sound-controlled rooms exclusively for survivors, who might need a space for reflection. It has one room dedicated to truth recognition, a room for investigating political crimes, and a sentencing room.

Analytical description of space:

The JEP occupies a rented space (at a cost of approx. 430,369 USD per month). This has become a topic of controversy in the country. Political opponents of the JEP have been using the building cost as a reason to try to halt the work under its mandate.

Every courtroom has been decorated with institutional images, and judges must wear a special uniform of the JEP.  From the outside, however, the building does not distinguish itself from the architectural style of the other buildings in the commercial sector where it is located. Moreover, it does not have any special insignia identifying it as Special Justice for Peace. The building’s location was a key consideration; being centrally located makes it easily accessible by public transportation.