gistfile1.txt

public class BaseController : Controller
{
    // auto-populate this based on request
    public Directory Directory { get; set; }
}

public class AnotherController : BaseController
{
    public ActionResult Index()
    {
        // no need to care about data access, just use exposed properties
        var viewModel = new SomeViewModel {
            Directory = Directory
        };

        return View(viewModel);
    }
}