Wiener Holocaust Library
The Wiener Holocaust Library project at No.29 Russell Square comprises a two-storey rear extension and targeted refurbishment within a listed building in the Bloomsbury Conservation Area.
The scheme delivers a new ground floor learning space, first floor gallery, courtyard, and roof terrace, enhancing public engagement while respecting the historic context. The extension sits above the existing archive space and introduces renewed building control systems, shifting from high-capacity close-control systems to passive, performance-driven environmental measures.
Building services are central to the project, prioritising environmental control, energy efficiency, and long-term resilience. Heating, cooling, and ventilation systems are carefully integrated to maintain stable internal conditions, supporting both occupant comfort and the preservation of sensitive archive materials. An appraisal of the existing building informed overheating mitigation strategies, including enhanced ventilation, solar control, and careful management of internal gains, all adapted to the heritage fabric. A low-carbon approach ensures discreet, flexible interventions with minimal impact on historic elements.
The result is a sustainable, future-ready environment supporting the Library’s operational and conservation objectives.
Key Feature
- Heating, cooling, and ventilation systems coordinated to provide stable internal conditions for occupants and archive preservation.
- Overheating mitigation strategies include enhanced natural and mechanical ventilation, solar shading, and management of internal gains, all adapted to the constraints of the heritage fabric.
- Energy-efficient systems minimise carbon emissions while supporting long-term operational sustainability.
- Building services are sensitively integrated to avoid impacting historic features, ensuring new installations are minimally visible and sympathetic to the listed building.