EXHIBITS ARCHIVES LIBRARIES
CULLINAN STUDIO 5 Baldwin Terrace, London N1 7RU, UK +44 (0) 20 7704 1975 www.cullinanstudio.com Contact: carol.costello@cullinanstudio.com
We are Cullinan Studio, an award-winning practice based in London, UK, founded by Ted Cullinan in 1965. We have been committed to innovation and sustainability throughout our forty five year history; designing a wide variety of projects from urban masterplans to individual homes, both in the UK and abroad. Although we work in many sectors, we have developed particular expertise in the design of Libraries, Archives and Visitor Centres exhibiting precious objects; creating solutions which respond to both the technical and cultural challenges these projects demand. This
booklet
illustrates
some
of
the
buildings we have designed to preserve and display special collections
such as
cinematic film, audio and video tape, rare books, photographs, illustrations, artefacts and herbarium specimens. We hope you find it intriguing, and we would be happy to discuss any plans your organisation may have to
improve existing or create new
buildings for your collections.
Cover Image_New Master Film Store for the British Film Institute (photograph by Edmund Sumner, Š British Film Institute).
C U L L I N A N ST U D I O
BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE MASTER FILM STORE A pioneering new, sub-zero archive for the world’s most significant collection of nitrate and acetate master films
Cullinan Studio has designed a pioneering new building for the British Film Institute (BFI) to preserve their master collections of nitrate and acetate film. We led a detailed feasibility study which concluded that the existing archive buildings could not be suitably upgraded, and that a new sub-zero storage facility large enough to house all master acetate and nitrate material should be created at the earliest opportunity. The building is now complete and over 300,000 film canisters containing the UK’s film heritage will be moved to their new vaults in the autumn of 2011. The solution is the result of intense research and
collaboration
between
architect,
engineers, film experts and the BFI to define the best solution for storing such a large collection of film sustainably, for the next 50 years and beyond. The vaults will keep the film in very cold, dry conditions of -5oC at 35% relative humidity, while the construction enables this environment to be created in an energy previous page_Cross section through the building showing large acetate vaults in the centre surrounded by smaller nitrate vaults round the perimeter, all serviced by air handling plant on the roof. opposite_Fire shrouds and over pressure panels to the nitrate film cells are designed to cope with the unique characteristics of a nitrate fire. The building is designed with resilience to maintain sub-zero conditions, thereby eliminating the risk of a nitrate fire (photograph by Edmund Sumner, Š British Film Institute). above_Image of deteriorating nitrate film. Acetate and nitrate films are susceptible to chemical reactions which decay the film over time. Sub-zero storage will arrest this decay.
efficient way. Pre-cast
concrete
panels
provide
the
thermal mass required to limit temperature fluctuations. Although the building form is quite simple, consisting of 36 repetitive continued
cellular vaults for either nitrate of acetate film, the specification requires extremely low air leakage rate of 0.3m3/hr/m2@50Pa, and must withstand extreme heat in the unlikely event of a nitrate film fire. Rigorous analysis, detailing, quality control and testing has been carried out to ensure the building will provide the sub–zero temperature, low humidity and fire prevention that the film requires for its preservation. The building is the first of its kind to store such large quantities of film in such cold and dry conditions; it will also achieve a BREEAM Rating of ‘Excellent’ for its sustainable features.
opposite_View of entrance and workshop area adjacent to the film vaults above_Mobile shelving in place ready for acetate film collections to be loaded in. Extensive analysis of shelving types was carried out to ensure the best solution for the collections and BFI staff. (Photographs by Edmund Sumner, © British Film Institute)
BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE CONSERVATION CENTRE MODERNISATION
Having established a successful working relationship with the BFI while designing their Master Film Store, we were asked to assist them with developing a masterplan for the phased improvement of their Conservation Centre in Berkhamsted, UK. The original 1980s building was designed for the workflow required for copying nitrate film onto acetate film; a process which is now obsolete. However, the need for new digitisation suites and areas for paper conservation have become a priority for the BFI. As a consequence of master copies of acetate film moving to the new Master Film Store, one of the existing film vaults at Berkhamsted is available to be converted to an environment suitable for the Photographic Stills Collection and other media. We consulted with the BFI to devise packages of work that could be funded separately, be logically sequenced and offer the best value in terms flexibility for future. All this was done while considering how to make the building fabric and its services more energy efficient to reduce running cost and improve the environment for collections and people.
above_British Cameraman, Jack Cardiff, with a technicolour camera (Image from the BFI Stills Collection and used with permission of the British Film Institute). opposite_Extract of the phasing plan devised for up to twenty sequenced work packages to modernise the existing layout.
ST JOHN’S COLLEGE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE A sensitive extension and remodelling of this historic library, providing new reading areas and rare book preservation.
Our expertise in library projects began with a new library for St John’s College at the University of Cambridge, which was completed in 1994. The existing collection of
books
and
manuscripts
had
long
outgrown its 17C library and a new modern library was urgently needed. Our design is located in the shell of the 1888 Penrose building, adjacent to the existing library. The original brief called for the southern part of the building to be replaced with a climatically controlled box with a sealed skin and air conditioning. We advised that the Penrose building should be saved and adapted to meet the environmental requirements. In order to provide a modern learning space, the interior was cleared and a new cross axis with entrance porch and apse was added. This created the space for well-lit corner reading bays that have delightful views over Chapel Court or the Master’s garden. Indeed, the library is characterised by its integration of a wide variety of comfortable reading spaces with the book collection.
opposite_ Study areas overlooking the enquiry desk. top left_The new library offers a variety of places for study. bottom left_Drawing showing the new library and courtyard carefully integrated with the existing college buildings.
HERBARIUM, LIBRARY, ART AND ARCHIVE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW A new wing to the historic Herbarium at Kew, providing modern environments to preserve and study herbarium specimens, rare books and botanic illustrations. 5
The original Herbarium at Kew has housed a botanic library and dried plant specimens since 1853. In order for Kew to maintain its status as a world leader in plant science they appointed us to design a modern archive wing which would house collections in a sustainable environment to protect them from fire, flood, humidity and infestation. We worked closely with the botanists, librarians and Kew publication team to ensure we met the requirements of their highly specific technical brief to create an innovative building
providing a reading
room, research areas, storage vaults and photo studio to aid digitisation of the collections. The site is extremely sensitive, and careful consultation was required with the World Heritage Steering Group, ICOMOS, English Heritage, the Thames Landscape Strategy, and local conservation and interest groups in order to achieve an appropriate response to the unique context and gain planning permission. The building design is sustainable
Senecio darwinii; collected by Darwin in 1833 previous page_Undulating cedar clad elevation of the new wing (photograph by Tim Soar). opposite_The new Reading Room provides secure access to precious material (photograph by Tim Soar). above_A herbarium specimen collected by Charles Darwin in 1833 is one of the many priceless items held in Kew’s collections (image courtesy of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew).
a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ Olea with europa; specimen ofrating. olives and olive leaves found in Tutankhamen’s tomb
6
opposite_New entrance to the Herbarium clad in Western Red Cedar from the Duchy of Cornwall Estate (photograph by Tim Soar). above_The Rare Book Room with its display window on to the Reading Room (photograph by Tim Soar) top right_Inside the herbarium vaults: the Kew ‘green box’ became the unit of measurement for the mobile shelving and the building as a whole. bottom right_Undulating passage leading to the archive vaults.
INTERPRETATION CENTRE PETRA, JORDAN A new visitors centre to convey the fascinating history of this World Heritage Site. .
The World Heritage Site of Petra is one of the new seven wonders of the world. Our design for the gateway building to this 1000 BC Nabataean Capital choreographs the experience of arrival and the movement around the site to increase the sense of mystery and expectation; to maintain the aura of a ‘lost’ city that ‘reluctantly’ reveals its secrets to the visitor. The design was approved by UNESCO, the World Bank and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA). The major building forms are based on the typical natural features of the ancient Nabataean world. A steep slope across the site provides the opportunity to vary the levels inside, which helps to lock the building into its setting and create the effect of an internal landscape. We ‘wrapped’ the exhibition galleries around a garden of frankincense and myrrh trees; whose incense created the trade routes that were the foundation of the great wealth of the Nabataeans. We worked with local experts and Land Design Studios to research the collection of artefacts that will support the interpretative galleries. Our building shades and cools its visitors previous page_Visitors enter an elliptical garden, descend through the galleries and then emerge to start their journey through the Petra wadi valley. opposite_View of the interpretation gallery. top left_The famous Treasury carved out of the valley walls of Petra . bottom left_ Nabateaen artefacts to be displayed in the exhibition galleries.
by natural means, and collects and stores winter rainfall in great cisterns to irrigate the central garden; all as the Nabataeans would have done.
JOHN HOPE GATEWAY ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, EDINBURGH The long awaited gateway building to the Gardens conveys the mission of the botanists working there through its interpretive exhibition and education spaces; all set within a contemporary new landscape.
The John Hope Gateway building is a threshold into the world of the Botanic Garden, as well as to the visitor facilities and event spaces. It houses exhibitions, indoor and outdoor education spaces, a media studio, shops, a restaurant and a new biodiversity garden. The project was designed and developed in collaboration with representatives of the 400 RBGE staff and Scottish Natural Heritage. The process included many user group meetings and workshops, culminating in funding from the Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs department. A porous ground floor allows visitors to enter and leave the building from different points and flow freely into different areas of the building. A curved glass wall looks out onto the biodiversity garden, taking the interpretation story of the Garden into the landscape. The upper floor contains flexible event facilities and catering - a space that can
accommodate
large
assemblies
of
visitors. Flexible spaces that can respond to topical events are allied to a permanent exhibition. The public are able to interact closely with previous page_View of the John Hope Gateway from the Botanic Garden (photograph Paul Raftery).
the scientists and researchers in a ‘Real Life Sciences’ studio. Botanists at work around
opposite_Evening view of cafe terrace overlooking the Botanic Garden (photograph Paul Raftery).
the world are able to interact via a media
above_Entrance planted with tree ferns; this is the both the gateway to the Botanic Garden and to the building’s exhibition, cafe and shop (photograph Matt Laver).
continued
centre.
The building includes various low energy environmental solutions, including a biomass boiler, a green roof for rainwater harvesting, a wind turbine, natural ventilation and passive night-time cooling. In the past year, the Gateway has boosted visitor numbers to the Garden by a third and catering and hospitality turnover has more than doubled; the Garden has seen a threefold increase in bookings for events and a 200 per cent rise in sales at is shop.
opposite_Cafe with its hand-crafted furniture made from trees felled in the gardens, and its precision engineered timber structure forming the canopy above. The pattern of the acoustic panels has been cut to the microscopic texture of cellulose. above_Exhibitions have been integrated to tell their story in the context of views to the Garden. (Photographs by Paul Raftery).
CULLINAN STUDIO 5 Baldwin Terrace, London N1 7RU, UK +44 (0) 20 7704 1975 www.cullinanstudio.com contact: carol.costello@cullinanstudio.com