Jehlička: It is clear that the new library building in Letná will not be built

Prague - The new building of the National Library (NK) designed by architect Jan Kaplický will not be built on Letná in Prague. This was stated today by Minister of Culture Václav Jehlička (KDU-ČSL), likely closing the months-long speculation about whether the proposal from the renowned architect coming from the international architectural competition in Prague will be realized.
    "I was surprised that the minister said it today, but the content of his statement did not surprise me much," said NK director Vlastimil Ježek to ČTK, who pointed out that it is clear that no progress in the project of the new building can be expected in the next two years. For the library management, the construction of the new building remains a priority. "Klementinum is not sufficient for the future unless it undergoes a brutal reconstruction, or if it is built underground, which we exclude," he stated.
    The author of the design, Jan Kaplický, does not attach significance to the minister's statement. "I have not been officially informed, ...I consider it a statement to the press, not a fact. The National Library on Letná will be," Kaplický stated today on Radio Impuls.
    The minister did not rule out personnel changes either. According to him, the responsibility lies primarily with the library, which has its legal personality and according to the minister, poorly prepared the project. Both the NK director and the architect must have known for a long time, according to Jehlička, that the project is unrealistic.
    "No one has their place secured, neither I nor any of my directors; this can never be ruled out," Jehlička said in response to journalists' inquiries about potential personnel consequences. The competition cost 25 million crowns, and if construction does not start according to the winning proposal within 24 months from the announcement of the results, its winner is entitled to severance pay equivalent to the prize for first place. This was 160,000 euros (now approximately 3.8 million crowns).
    "I am not familiar with the minister's statement. However, I also think that Kaplický's blob will not be built on Letná," Prague Mayor Pavel Bém informed ČTK in a text message, who has not viewed the project positively since last autumn, contrary to his earlier statements.
    The future of the project has been at a standstill for several months and increasingly became a political topic. Already in May, both Ježek and Kaplický stated that the project is being postponed and will become a topic for the electoral battle ahead of the next parliamentary elections in 2010.
    "It is now clear to the public that the 'octopus' on Letná will not be built," Jehlička said at a press conference after a government meeting. Ježek mentioned that he knows many people for whom "that is not clear," and he himself reportedly belongs to them.
    The cabinet discussed the program for the care of the national cultural treasure, which includes several state cultural institutions, including the NK. The program is supposed to primarily focus on the buildings in which these institutions reside and are in poor condition, such as the main building of the National Museum or the NK's premises in Klementinum. There has never been consideration that funds from this program would go towards the construction of a new library building.
    Jehlička stated that his ministry, as the founder of the NK, must take care of the library in the future. It must address its spatial issues, which, according to the NK management, are the main reason for preparing the new building's construction.
    According to the minister, the new library project on Letná was unprepared. "And it was a certain adventure. Now our attention must focus on revitalizing Klementinum in light of new contexts," the minister said. The State Technical Library is moving out of Klementinum, as it will have its own new building. However, Ježek mentioned that the technical library is not a collection library, thus it does not take up much space in the repositories, and the spaces after it are planned for the Slavic Library, which works under inadequate conditions.
    Jehlička said today that the potential of the extensive Baroque building needs to be reassessed. He also stated that he identifies with a petition from academics who expressed concerns about the commercialization of Klementinum. He will have an expert opinion prepared on how Klementinum can be utilized. However, the NK management has always declared that Klementinum will remain the main seat of this institution. They planned to use the vacated spaces primarily for library and cultural purposes. This year, they also signed a contract with Charles University regarding the use of Klementinum.
    According to Jehlička, there are no funds or land for the construction of the library referred to as the blob. He mentioned back in May that the budget had allocated 1.9 billion crowns for the library. Kaplický's project would cost around four billion according to estimates. However, money for construction would rather be a matter for the budgets of future years, not this year's budget.
    The lack of space in the NK, according to Jehlička, will be addressed by expanding the Hostivař repository. Ježek considers this option extreme, as it would prolong the delivery times of borrowed books and increase the transport of them across Prague.