New Building For National Library

5 March 2007, 14:34 - Culture
The jury of professional architects chose the winning project for the new building of the National Library, that should by built in Prague Letna (near Hradcanska metro station and around 2 kms from the Prague Castle.

One chose, the project around controversial reaction both from professionals and the public. The team around world famous architect with Czech roots based in Great Britain Jan Kaplický (his works include cricket stadium Lord's in London or department store Selfridges in Birmingham, Great Britain) proposed atypical building with pyramid shape (see picture).

The pyramid looks like green octopus with a violet eye overlooking Prague's Old Town. The building should be ready to open as early as 2011, and the price for it reaches 2 billions CZK (approx. 71 million EUR).

The project plans with a ultramodern system of borrowing books. Every book should be delivered to the client in 5 minutes after asking for it.

National Library, the largest one in the Czech Republic now have its seat in the historical building - Klementinum just by the Charles Bridge. It is one of the largest building complexes in Prague, however there is not enough space for new books. National Library is the shelter for more than 6 million documents.

The new building should offer more than 1200 study places and depository for more than 10 million documents. They will be stored mainly below the building.