The PCA's headquarters and main hearing facilities: the Peace Palace
Constructed between 1907 and 1913 to serve as the headquarters of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the Peace Palace has become one of the most iconic buildings in The Hague.
History
Constructed between 1907 and 1913 to serve as the headquarters of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the Peace Palace has become one of the most iconic buildings in The Hague.
Its unique architecture and rich interiors reflect the Court's mission to facilitate the peaceful resolution of international disputes, as well as the generosity and the diverse cultural heritage of the PCA's Founding States who donated materials and artworks from across the globe to build the PCA's Peace Palace.
Artworks & Gifts
The interiors of the Peace Palace form a mosaic of artistic treasures reflecting the diverse cultural heritage of the PCA’s Founding Nations. Each piece tells a story, beginning with Japan's exquisite silk tapestries that grace the walls of the PCA’s Administrative Council Chamber — delicate threads woven by forty-eight thousand skilled artists over the course of five years. From Türkiye, a Hereke rug spreads across the floor, its intricate patterns reflecting the country's rich textile heritage. Denmark gifted a porcelain fountain, China gave precious Qing dynasty vases, and the stained glass windows were gifts from various nations, each depicting themes of justice and peace.
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At the Second Peace Conference in 1907, French delegate Baron d’Estournelles de Constant proposed that all participating States contribute resources toward the construction of the Peace Palace for the PCA.
The result is a granite, sandstone and red-brick building incorporating elements from different architectural traditions that represent the diverse cultural inputs at the heart of the PCA. Countries around the world donated materials and artworks, enriching the palace with their unique heritage.
Busts
The halls of the Peace Palace are adorned with various artworks reflecting its function as the headquarters of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, including busts of prominent individuals who contributed to the establishment of the PCA and to the furtherance of the ideals of peace and justice embodied by the Court.
Notable figures such as Tobias Asser, Louis Renault, and Bertha von Suttner were instrumental in shaping the foundations of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and advancing international peace. Their efforts in pioneering arbitration, advocating for human rights, and promoting peaceful diplomacy continue to resonate with the mission of the PCA and its enduring role in resolving international disputes.
Official chairs of the PCA’s Contracting Parties
One of the most emblematic sights in the Permanent Court of Arbitration's (PCA) Administrative Council Chamber is the set of 124 specially designed chairs for the representatives of the PCA’s Contracting Parties - one for each of the Court's 124 Contracting Parties.
This symbolic representation of the PCA’s Contracting Parties in its Administrative Council Chamber underscores the Court's role as a global forum for arbitration and dispute resolution among nations, ensuring that each Contracting Party has a seat at the table, both literally and figuratively.