BFI Master Film Store

The BFI National Archives go back to the birth of film and are the most significant film and television collection in the world. Without proper storage conditions, fragile and unstable nitrate and acetate film risked being lost forever.

The entire master film collection - over 450,000 canisters - is now safely stored in the BFI Master Film Store in closely controlled environmental conditions.

The vaults keep the film at minus 5 degrees C and at 35 per cent relative humidity. The fabric and services enable this environment to be maintained in an energy efficient way.

The Master Film Store has achieved a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating both for its passive energy saving design and the ecological features that enhance its rural site.

The Store will save over £330,000 in annual energy costs and over 1,500 tonnes of carbon compared with initial options for refurbishing the BFI's existing archive buildings to the same environmental conditions; and over £78,000 and 386 tonnes of carbon compared to a 2006 Building Regulations compliant building.

Sedum and 21 species of wild flowers cover the roof, a wild flower meadow has been planted and linear swales built in the landscape provide a sustainable drainage system.

The building performs its function in an elegantly composed structure. The long elevations are articulated with large stainless steel over-pressure panels and concrete fire shrouds to the 30 cells for nitrate film. The stainless steel panels open in the unlikely event of fire to allow a clean burn. The pre-cast shrouds prevent heat spreading to adjacent cells.

Ventilation + Heat recovery

Innovative cooling system

Shading system

High efficient façade

Occupancy sensors

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems

Green or brown roofs

No light pollution