The Herefordshire Archive and Record Centre (HARC) is the first UK Passivhaus archive building, and the first to be designed and built to the new guidance on the storage and exhibition of archival materials, PD5454, released in March 2012. By proving that Passivhaus offered a 4% capital cost saving out weighed the original brief target of BREEAM Excellent and has met the clients vision of offering value for money with on-going operational savings; around 80% compared to similar facilities built to UK Building Regulations. The building is split into two distinct masses, a thermally isolated repository and an administration facility with public outreach, accommodating public research rooms, an education room, restoration lab, council offices and exhibition space across two floors. Constructed using timber frame and offering high levels of internal comfort, the administration facility provides ideal conditions for working and focused study. The ‘buffer zone’ joining the two buildings has been articulated into a striking entrance foyer and reception, offering views up and through its three-storey height. The adjoined archive is an unperforated monolithic concrete box-form, housing over 7800 collections and approximately 2 miles of integral shelving. This airtight building provides perfect repository conditions, with an environmentally controlled internal space that has been tuned and optimised for its specific purpose. Externally clad with a striking cedar shingle vented façade makes an impressive natural backdrop to this prominently cited public building. A key aspiration was to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere with an air of frugal quality without ostentation; the choice of natural materials and finishes offer a clean and calming aesthetic. Achieving a welcoming presence to users was coupled with the need to provide a secure environment for the county’s priceless archive collection. Security has been designed into the immediate landscape; creating a man-made moat that cuts off access to the building out of hours, and making each aspect of the building visible for natural surveillance. These simple but effective solutions offer a friendly approach to the building, which stands proud as a gateway building to the Enterprise Zone.