Welcome to
The Building Archives,
a resource to facilitate
the reuse & preservation
of our built heritage.
Search Archive
The Building Archives,
a resource to facilitate
the reuse & preservation
of our built heritage.
About the Archives
Built on the foundations of the famous Bylander Archives,
The Building Archives is a collection of thousands of structural drawings from across the UK.
Originally drafted in pen and ink, then captured onto microfilm, the drawings are now available as a growing digital resource to explore, enquire and purchase.
With adaptive reuse now at the forefront of design practice, The Building Archives is a resource to empower architects, engineers, and landowners to unlock and maximise the potential of existing building stock by understanding how buildings of old were shaped.
The Building Archives currently holds records from the Bylander Waddell Partnership and will soon include Clarke Nicholls Marcel (CNM) and Elliott Wood.
As the platform expands, we welcome inquiries from other built environment practices to host their archives.
Get in touch at info@thebuildingarchives.co.uk.
Bylander image courtesy of Institute of Civil Engineers Library and Archives.
The Building Archives is a collection of thousands of structural drawings from across the UK.
Originally drafted in pen and ink, then captured onto microfilm, the drawings are now available as a growing digital resource to explore, enquire and purchase.
With adaptive reuse now at the forefront of design practice, The Building Archives is a resource to empower architects, engineers, and landowners to unlock and maximise the potential of existing building stock by understanding how buildings of old were shaped.
The Building Archives currently holds records from the Bylander Waddell Partnership and will soon include Clarke Nicholls Marcel (CNM) and Elliott Wood.
As the platform expands, we welcome inquiries from other built environment practices to host their archives.
Get in touch at info@thebuildingarchives.co.uk.
Bylander image courtesy of Institute of Civil Engineers Library and Archives.
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1877
Sven Nathanael Bylander was born in Västergötland, southwest Sweden.
1902
Having learnt about steel as a draughtsman in the Lindholmens shipyard at Gothenburg, and working in Germany and the US, he goes to London and starts work for the Waring White Building Company.
1904-1905
As Chief Engineer, he collaborates with architects, Mewès and Davis, on London's Ritz Hotel — the city's first significant steel-framed building.
1906-1908
He works with Daniel Burnham on fireproofing and design for Selfridges Department Store.
1908
Bylander becomes a founding member of the Concrete Institute, later renamed The Institution of Structural Engineers.
1919
He designs Liverpool’s Bryant and May Factory, one of Britain's earliest flat concrete slab constructions.
1930s
Bylander reaches the height of his success, with structures on five continents and regular contributions to the industry’s leading publications.
1943
Sven Bylander passes away in Chelsea, London.
2022
Elliott Wood purchases the Bylander Archives from Bylander Waddell Partnerships and establishes The Building Archives.
2024
The Building Archives acquires the CNM archive, adding an additional 55,000 structural drawings to the growing library of built environment resources.
1877
Sven Nathanael Bylander was born in Västergötland, southwest Sweden.
1902
Having learnt about steel as a draughtsman in the Lindholmens shipyard at Gothenburg, and working in Germany and the US, he goes to London and starts work for the Waring White Building Company.
1904-1905
As Chief Engineer, he collaborates with architects, Mewès and Davis, on London's Ritz Hotel — the city's first significant steel-framed building.
1906-1908
He works with Daniel Burnham on fireproofing and design for Selfridges Department Store.
1908
Bylander becomes a founding member of the Concrete Institute, later renamed The Institution of Structural Engineers.
1919
He designs Liverpool’s Bryant and May Factory, one of Britain's earliest flat concrete slab constructions.
1930s
Bylander reaches the height of his success, with structures on five continents and regular contributions to the industry’s leading publications.
1943
Sven Bylander passes away in Chelsea, London.
2022
Elliott Wood purchases the Bylander Archives from Bylander Waddell Partnerships and establishes The Building Archives.
2024
The Building Archives acquires the CNM archive, adding an additional 55,000 structural drawings to the growing library of built environment resources.
The Buildings
The Building Archive contains records of thousands of buildings constructed from the early 1900s to the present day.
These include landmarks like Selfridges, smaller provincial factories and private residences.
While the level of detail in each record may vary, each offers valuable insight into its structure and design.
These include landmarks like Selfridges, smaller provincial factories and private residences.
While the level of detail in each record may vary, each offers valuable insight into its structure and design.
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