In the words of the architects; the project called for the creation of an archive building for the Rothschild family archive, an associated reading room with archivists' offices and an office building occupied by various charities.
The building is on the site of a previous dairy farm and the farmhouse from this use remains. This former agricultural use and the very fine views were the two main drivers of the design in terms of detail and layout.
The intention was very much to form a contemplative place with its own garden.
Materials are simple and oak is used throughout both for the reading room grid-shell structure and for the furniture that was made to the architects' design.
Windmill Hill is one of the fascinating projects on the 2012 UK Field Tour itinerary, discover more here - but hurry, bookings close soon.
