Location: Delft, Netherlands.

Architect: Office Winhov Gottlieb Paludan Architects.

Office Winhov and Gottlieb Paludan Architects have designed the new City Archive of Delft, which is an important building for the city as it stores and provides access to the history of the old city. The building is located at the closing head of a narrow park that connects the site to the historic centre of Delft. The building has a compact organisation with offices, workshops and reading rooms at the ground floor and the archive depots in the floors above. The public reading rooms are situated along the entire facade facing the park and form the welcoming address of the building. The brick facade expresses the timeless and robust character of the building with storage as its main purpose. The white concrete plinth clearly refers to the image of the public buildings in the historic centre of the city. The efficient layout allows for flexible use whilst supporting the sustainability of the building.

Photo credit: Stefan Müller.