Delft City Archives

Delft City Archives: A new civic building where the façade tells the story of what’s inside

The new Delft City Archives combines public access and secure preservation in a brick building inspired by bookshelves

Gemeente Delft needed a larger, better-equipped home for the city’s archives. The former 1950s premises could no longer hold the collection and lacked important technical capabilities. AFRY Architects, in collaboration with Office Winhov, designed a new building that supports both preservation and public engagement.

Brick facade and ground-floor windows at Delft City Archives.

Architecture shaped by the archive

The building’s distinctive brick relief takes its motif from the bookshelf.

This crafted façade makes the program legible from the outside and connects the project to Delft’s tradition of richly worked brick architecture.

The result is a civic building that communicates its purpose through material and pattern.

Public access on the ground floor

To underline the archive’s public role, the outward-facing functions occupy the ground level. A café, a publicly accessible reading room, and offices for the archive’s staff welcome visitors, making the institution open and approachable. Clear organization and street-level activity emphasize the value of knowledge as a shared resource.

Concept sketch of reading room interior at Delft City Archives.

Protecting the collection

The archives themselves are located on the upper floors. This arrangement protects the collection from potential water damage in the event of a storm surge or cloudburst. By elevating the storage areas, the design responds to local environmental risks while maintaining efficient operations.

Connected to place

Sited on the edge of the Harnaschpolder business district, the building faces the canal and looks toward the park and the old town across the water. The placement strengthens visual ties between the city’s historical core and its contemporary civic infrastructure.

Space for growth

Gardens at the rear of the site reserve space for future expansion, ensuring the archive can evolve as the collection grows and public needs change. This forward-looking provision balances present requirements with long-term stewardship.

AFRY Architects’ design brings together a crafted exterior, a clear public interface, and robust protection for heritage materials. The Delft City Archives is both a place to meet knowledge and a place to keep it safe.