Archival storage buildings are typically only exciting for people questing to uncover the location of the Declaration of Independence, but it doesn't take Nicholas Cage to find something interesting in Australia's new National Archive Preservation Facility.
The archives, which were designed by May + Russell architects, don't look like what one would expect from a building designed to store old documents. Rather than a bland industrial look, the National Archive Preservation Facility is covered in an interesting, angular facade that looks almost like boxes being opened and closed — a fitting image considering the objects inside.
The archives held in the NAPF include over 15 million paper and audio visual records. With such a massive wealth of documents, the building's architects were concerned with expressing the passage of time wherever possible in and around the building.
What's Driving This Trend
- Angular Architecture
- Incorporating unique angular facades in architectural designs to create visually striking buildings.
- Innovative Archival Storage
- Exploring unconventional building designs and materials to enhance the preservation and storage of documents and valuable records.
- Time-inspired Design
- Incorporating elements of the passage of time in architectural designs as a way to express the purpose and significance of the stored objects.
Who This Affects Most
- Architecture
- Opportunity for architects and designers to revolutionize architectural aesthetics and functionality in archival storage buildings.
- Document Management
- Innovation opportunities for companies in the document management industry to develop specialized storage solutions that prioritize both preservation and easy accessibility.
- Historical Preservation
- Disruptive innovation potential for organizations involved in historical preservation to collaborate with architects and technologists to create visually captivating archival storage facilities.
