The Lisbon Civil Courts building, designed by Januario Godinho and Joao Andresen, represents a break with tradition, as it adopts a modernist language of great conceptual originality. Its urban setting, volume, expression and functionality, together with the new materials used in its construction, make it a building that stands on its own and for itself, even though it was designed as part of a larger complex that was to form the Lisbon Justice Forum. The significance and force of its monumental aspect are undeniable, and heightened by its location at one of the highest points in the city, at the same elevation as the Castelo de Sao Jorge.