Montesquieu building

The Law Faculty building was named after Charles Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (1689-1755), the French philosopher who is considered to be one of the founders of sociology. His ideas on the separation of powers underlie the trias politica, the system whereby the legislative, executive and judiciary powers are divided into three independent branches. This trias politica is also the subject of the work of art by Anna Thalia Benus, which she made in 2006 in consultation with Professor Willem Witteveen for the entry hall to the meeting rooms on the upper floor of the Faculty. The work represents a girl balancing on a blue ball with Montesquieu’s face on the back of her head whilst juggling three balls in the colors of the Dutch (and the French) state: red, white and blue, symbolizing the legislative, executive and judiciary powers. By way of an infinity mirror effect, each of the powers is present as a kind of “supervisory power” in the others.

The tripartite work is entitled “Three Rooms (and a Girl) for Mr. M.” On the ground floor of the building, there is also a bonus work by her, which came from a design sketch, in addition to a more traditional bust of the building’s namesake. The Montesquieu Learning Center is on the ground floor, offering many (group) workplaces to students.

Changing plans

The law building, for that matter, was initially intended to house the TIAS Business School. The top floors were meant to provide hotel room and wellness facilities. With spaces having already been designated and restroom furniture stacked outside, however, the intended operator, facing a long list of demands, had a crisis of hope and faith and pulled out at the eleventh hour.