National Cold War Exhibition, RAF Museum, Cosford, Shropshire
- Client: Royal Air Force Museum
- Principal designer: Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects
- Principal engineer: Michael Barclay Partnership
- Principal contractor: Galliford Try
- Contract value: £9 million
About the project
This landmark building is the world's first display dedicated to documenting the social, political and military conflicts of the Cold War. It is a physical metaphor for the Cold War's opposing forces, reflected by two offset curvilinear triangular volumes which rise 30 metres above the ground and meet on a 130 metre-long central divide running the full length of the building.
A glazed lift takes visitors to an upper level viewing platform, over a suspended bridge, and the three levels provide multiple vantage points for exhibition's collection, which includes 17 aircraft with wing spans of up to 50 metres. The hall also houses an auditorium, classrooms and other facilities.
To protect the aircraft, an economical, sustainable strategy was adopted which controls humidity using low-energy conservation heating and natural ventilation. The ancillary services are the only areas environmentally controlled. Cooling uses the thermal mass of the exposed reinforced concrete.
Materials have been chosen to emphasise the building's simple and strong statement: the smooth lines of the aluminium roof dominate the sculptural form of the exterior; and the robust industrial aesthetic of the interior provides stark contrasts.
The judges said: 'Simple, striking, economical - smooth lines and robust industrial interiors'.