Appointment
Completion
Area
Client

2024
2026
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Municipio de San Juan

Puerto Rico’s Tribunal Supremo required a worthy -yet subdued- main entrance. As part of the building’s restoration, reconstructing the ceremonial vehicular entry to the complex became essential. An atypical proposal was ultimately accepted: a subtle reimagining that gently welcomes visitors approaching the historic modernist campus. The design replaces a traditional fountain that once stood at the entrance but inappropriately competed with the original reflecting pool while demanding constant energy and maintenance. The complex sits on what was once a mangrove wetland -today Muñoz Rivera Park- so environmental sensitivity guided the intervention. Over time, poor construction and drainage caused the roadway and its infrastructure to collapse. Reconstruction required removal of unstable soil, proper fill compaction, improved storm drainage, and mitigation measures to prevent further deterioration of surrounding structures. Considering Puerto Rico’s economic constraints and vulnerability to recurring natural disasters, the proposal evolved into a ‘waterless’ sculptural piece that channels rainwater rather than relying on pumped potable water. The project is titled Vas Foederis, Latin for “vessel of the pact”, vas meaning container and foederis meaning covenant, symbolizing a receptacle that holds and protects the collective agreements that sustain justice. Vas Foederis harmonizes the Tribunal’s modernist architecture with its tropical setting. A smooth white monolithic dome floats above a textured artisanal base, set within oblique paving that merges with the park landscape while highlighting the rainwater drainage system. With a 26-foot (8 m) diameter matching the rhythm of the building’s structural bays, the nine (9) slits and nonagonal base reference the Court’s modules and nine (9) Associate Judges, evoking a flower rising from the ground and symbolizing the virtues that sustain justice and democratic values.

Model