Duxford: Nissen Hut known as Building 171

Nissen hut, known as Building 171, built to the designs of Major Peter Norman Nissen installed at RAF Duxford around 1940-1945.

MATERIALS: prefabricated steel structure with a half-cylindrical skin of corrugated steel and internal timber supports.

PLAN: rectangular in plan.

EXTERIOR: the prefabricated steel structure comprises a half-cylindrical skin of corrugated steel. At either end a wooden frame supports vertical timber weatherboarding. At the northern end three, timber plank and batten doors provide a wide entrance with a single casement window to the left and ventilation panel above. To the southern end a central plank and batten door is flanked by simple casement windows. A window has been created on the eastern side by the insertion of a dormer, the corrugated sheeting being supported by the timber window frame.

INTERIOR: although the structural steel frame is visible and readable, the internal face of the building has been sprayed throughout with insulating foam which distorts the detailing. The internal space has been subdivided using particleboard and a door inserted, but this has done little damage to the original structural frame. The floor is of concrete.