The design of the new library in Turnov refers to the Bohemian Paradise and will open in September

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Turnov - The design of the new library in Turnov refers to the symbols of the Czech Paradise. It should remind visitors of a rock gorge, and on the roof, there will be a reading room with a pine tree typical for rock outlooks. The construction of the four-story building, costing over 115 million crowns, is nearly finished after two years. Inside, craftsmen only have details left to complete, and they are currently working mainly on landscaping around the building. The library still needs to be furnished. It will open on September 1, library director Jaroslav Kříž told reporters today.

The Antonín Marka Library in Turnov is one of the oldest in the country, having been established 206 years ago. The current building on Jeronýmova Street does not meet capacity needs, lacking better sanitary facilities, visitor amenities, and a community hall. Additionally, the library is not disabled accessible. The new building on Skálova Street, between the summer cinema and the house Na Sboře, will significantly improve conditions for library visitors, according to Kříž. "Because we will offer much more space than we had in our historical building," he said.

According to him, the new library will have about one-third more space than before. "Primarily, it will offer us new things that we could not organize in the historical building," Kříž stated. He added that the current trend is for libraries to be community spaces, places for gathering where people go to spend their leisure time.

The library in Turnov has 2,300 readers, and the director expects an increase in numbers due to the move to new premises. "Primarily, I wish for people to come here to spend their free time. So it won't just be about having 3,000 or 4,000 readers, but to be able to say that, in a month, 7,000 people came, of which only half were readers," he added.

An attraction for visitors may also be the atypical design of the library, which was designed by the A69 studio - architects. "The building is conceived so that there are various elements from the Czech Paradise," Kříž said. The library should be an analogy to the rock gorge; the visitor should discover views and breaks typical for the natural environment of a rock town. "For example, the Mouse Hole at Hruboskalsko. Imagine that when you enter there, you will be surrounded by rock. And of course, we are in a library, so you will be surrounded by books. That's why it's somewhat called a library in the rocks," said the library director.

Various window sizes on the facade also refer to the local sandstone rocks, which have openings of different sizes. The reading room on the roof should resemble a stay at a rock outlook, with the illusion being completed by a planted pine tree. "Which is another symbol of the Czech Paradise," Kříž said.

The library will also be unusual in that one wall of the facade will have a projection screen for the summer cinema. Like before, it will remain curved, which inspired the architects to make other parts of the building curved as well. "That's why you won't find many straight walls in this library building. Everything is a little bit bent," added the library director.