Kaplický admitted that the library he proposed may not be built in Prague

Prague, October 14 (ČTK) - World-renowned architect of Czech origin Jan Kaplický has admitted for the first time that his design for the new National Library building might not be built in Prague at all. Kaplický also warned that after the collapse of the competition in which his design for a building at Letná won, world architects might become distrustful of similar processes in the Czech Republic. He stated this in an interview with Nova television.
Prague Mayor Pavel Bém, who considers the proposed location of the building in Letná to be unfortunate, told Nova that the new library is infinitely inconsiderate in relation to Prague's heritage reserve and disregards the urban plan. According to him, it would disrupt the Prague skyline, which is why the city hall wants to move it elsewhere. "If Prague wants this, then I have no place here, that would be very sad," said Kaplický.
The architect called on the mayor for a public television debate about his design for the new National Library building. He feels that the events surrounding the library are politicized and that history is repeating itself in the Czech Republic, where everything is "discussed in some secret chambers." According to him, buildings in the Czech Republic were "stopped and destroyed by the Bolsheviks." Bém rejects the political undertones of the dispute over the library.
The future of the new National Library (NK) building at Letná is becoming increasingly uncertain. The majority of the most significant part of the Prague city council, the ODS club, expresses its disagreement with the construction. If the city actually stands against it, according to the director of NK Vlastimil Ježek, it would not be possible to push the construction through. The Minister of Culture Václav Jehlička (KDU-ČSL) also wants to discuss the library with the Prague Mayor.
The Civic Democrats are willing to tolerate a building located further from the center of Prague, which Kaplický opposes. At the same time, he rejects simplified discussions about changing the color or appearance of the library. He wants to comment on such matters only in a professional discussion.
The library's design sparked a stormy reaction right after its announcement. Among its opponents is the president and honorary chairman of the ODS Václav Klaus, while his predecessor Václav Havel supports it. According to a ČTK survey from this week, most architects believe that Prague should have Kaplický's building. However, most also believe that another location should be chosen for it.
The debates, however, are not only about the proposed design of the library but also about the location where the building should stand. Although Prague voted almost unanimously last year for the new library building in Letná, the later winning design was not known at that time. According to the majority of the experts surveyed, the problems arise from the fact that there was a lack of an urban study for Letná before the competition. This study would address not only the library, which has been reserved in the urban plan for a cultural building for a long time, but also other planned buildings on the plain. The parcel for the library is outside the Letná Plain itself. The absence of a concept for the development of Letná was also criticized yesterday on Czech Television by Jehlička and former Minister of Culture Vítězslav Jandák (ČSSD).