precision urban building block 

Annex for the Bamberg State Archive

With its meticulously planned dimensions, the cuboid structure has the effect of a keystone slotting neatly into the complex of listed buildings which make up the Bamberg State Archive. Together with the historic wall, it cordons off the neo-baroque gardens. A single-level corridor connects the old to the new and features a glazed facade offering a largely unimpeded view of the historic building. A single-storey flat-roofed building provides a ground-level link between the new build and the depository dating from the 1960s. Floor-to-ceiling windows give the row of offices a view of the courtyard. Prefabricated concrete ribs on the facade reflect the storing, layering and stacking that take place inside the archive. The interplay of light and shadow creates the effect of a three-dimensional surface, behind which the structural shell recedes into the background. The minimalist design combined with the use of resilient substances and locally sourced building materials are key components of the 

sustainability-conscious architecture.