Design - Initial Ideas

I wanted to design from the inside out. The librarian at Cambridge University Library informed me that the ideal map storage conditions would be in flat, horizontal trays. The environmental conditions would, ideally be between 16 and 19 degrees Celsius. 

I thought the best way of achieving suitable environmental conditions would be to build underground. A bore hole/ geology study showed that after a layer of topsoil, the ground is mainly clay underneath the site.

In section, I plan to have two buildings, either side of the solar panels. The brief stated two building functions - a public building for a map gallery/exhibition and browsing; and private areas for staff, cartographers and deliveries. I read this as two buildings, one either side of the solar panels on the north of the site. 

In plan, the two buildings would have stairs/lift access down to the subterranean levels, where the map storage would be organised in a maze-like grid. I like the idea of needing a map to find your way around a map depositary. 

In section along the corridor, the map storage could be built into the structure. The lighting could come from above and the map cabinets could be placed into purposely-sized vaults:

Isometric view of the parti diagram. My basic concept is two buildings connected by an underground network of map storage.