This modern building, the Strafjustizzentrum, is a place where justice is served in Munich. It stands majestically on Nymphenburger Strasse in the Maxvorstadt district. It was built in the 1970s and is home to the criminal divisions of the Munich District Court and the Munich Regional Courts I and II. The Munich I Public Prosecutor’s Office is housed in the same complex but on Linprunstrasse. The Strafjustizzentrum isn’t just a building, it’s the heart of the Munich justice system, where the fate of many is decided. You’ll find a variety of courts and offices within its walls, including the Strafkammern, the Strafsenate, and the Staatsanwaltschaften. The building has 49 courtrooms, where countless trials take place. Sadly, though, the building itself has been in decline for years and is now deemed structurally unsound. Its problems include frequent power outages, damaged toilets, a crumbling facade, and a limited capacity for the underground garage. So they are building a new Strafjustizzentrum in a brand new spot on the Leonrodplatz in Neuhausen. The new location will see six departments and courts consolidated under one roof, making the new Strafjustizzentrum a massive building. It’s a 39,000 square meter structure with three courtyards and 54 courtrooms, including one of the biggest in Germany, measuring almost 300 square meters. The new Strafjustizzentrum, although a modern masterpiece, isn’t without its controversies. It has sparked controversy among local anarchists who have gone so far as to vandalize the building site, break windows, and set vehicles on fire. In 2019, 14 people were arrested at the construction site on suspicion of social security fraud and tax evasion. The new Strafjustizzentrum is expected to be finished in 2023, but the occupants will not move in until 2026. It is a testament to the ever-evolving commitment to uphold justice in Munich, and the need for a new building, hopefully, will lead to more secure and efficient proceedings for decades to come.
Gaststätte Fraunhofer
Picture the Gaststätte Fraunhofer. Its history whispers from the very wood of its interior. This isn’t just any tavern. It’s