Rothschild Foundation

Research for the final project on archival buildings in Aylesbury by Steven Marshall Architects http://www.marshallarchitects.co.uk/

The archives include meeting rooms and open plan offices. Architects have retained an existing farmhouse and incorporated it into the new program. The archive is open to public by appointment and the project is organized around a courtyard.

Besides the impressive timber oak roof and cladding, the archive itself is innovative with its approach to storage. 

The archive on the South wing of the courtyard is naturally ventilated. This had been achieved not only by orientation but also by double-layer concrete walls with ventilation cavity in between, giving a 1.5m wide section. It is divided into smaller containments that can withstand fire for four hours eliminating the need for sprinklers.

Photography is by Richard Bryant/arcaidimages.com