The National Library is exhibiting competition designs for a new building

Prague - All 355 designs submitted for the international architectural competition for the construction of a new building for the National Library can be assessed by visitors to the exhibition Eye over Prague starting Thursday. It is held at the Klementinum Gallery in the library's current headquarters. It will last until May 31 and is free of charge.
    Visitors can compare the plans of individual architects through drawings, photographs of models, and computer visualizations. The conclusion of the exhibition is dedicated to the eight finalists, whose works are presented in more detail, including the models themselves. The largest space is dedicated to the winning project by the British office Future Systems led by Jan Kaplický.
    At the exhibition, this design is set within a model of Letná Plain, where the building is supposed to be located; this served as a tool for the jury when assessing the competition entries.
    The exhibition is complemented by a screening of a documentary that maps the course of the competition and a film about Jan Kaplický.
    On the occasion of the exhibition, the National Library is also publishing a publication Eye over Prague - Library for the Third Millennium, which recalls the development of plans for the construction of a new building. However, its largest part consists of the presentation of the winning project by Jan Kaplický and Future Systems. There is also a small exhibition titled Milestones on the Path to the New Building of the National Library, located on the ground floor of the Klementinum, in the main hallway before the General Study Room.
    The National Library announced the architectural competition for the design of a new building last May and announced its winner on March 2. This immediately triggered a wave of discussions not only among experts but also among the general public. Most often, the subject of these discussions is only the appearance of the proposed building, though critical voices from experts are also heard.
    These primarily concern the alleged non-compliance with the competition condition regarding the localization of the book storage in the above-ground part of the building; the winner has it underground. Although the competition organizer rejects the objections, the Czech Chamber of Architects requested the International Union of Architects on Tuesday to verify the legitimacy of the competition.