Temperature moisture content and pollution of the air in store rooms play an important role in the deterioration of archival records. Ideally, the conditions should be stable and clean. Cardboard boxes containers offer good protection against polluted air, and unlike plastic and metal, also promote environmental stability. Experience from old buildings shows that such stability can also be produced by structural means: essential factors are building material (brick), wall design (slab curtain with air space for insulation) and window layout. Initially applied in 1971 to the Cologne City Historical Archives, the concept has since been adapted and modified for other archive buildings. Details are given of wall construction and temperature and humidity values prevailing over two right month periods.24 references notes.