NK: The traffic in the "octopus" will resemble a traffic light

Prague - A library as a traffic light that guides readers with colors and lines - this is how librarians envision the functioning of the new National Library (NK) according to the design by Jan Kaplický, which is to be built in Letná. Meeting places and basic services will be surrounded by green color; a dashed line requiring valid registration will be in front of the study rooms. Red will prevent entry into the strictly protected conservation funds. This follows from an operational study published by Bohdana Stoklasová, head of the NK's contemporary collections department.
    The NK management is now waiting for a decision from the antitrust office so it can resume negotiations about starting construction. If the disputes surrounding the new library are resolved, a detailed study will be prepared by the end of this year to develop a project for the building permit.
    The funds from 1801 to the present should move to Letná; the building will accommodate up to 10 million library units, which should help the library's capacity for 50 years. Readers will be able to freely choose from 300,000 documents, with another 50,000 available in serviced reference libraries. There will also be 1,250 study places and an additional 700 in social and relaxation areas.
    The architecture of the building represents, according to Stoklasová, a three-dimensional space that visually seems to float above the stage. The edges of the stage will be elevated in some places, and sloping surfaces will be covered with mirrored stainless steel. The building will touch the ground at eight points “as if lightly”. It is set into the surrounding greenery so that it does not exceed the level of the trees.
    The so-called podium area made of unpolished white marble will serve, among other things, as a parking lot, for loading, unloading, and storing materials, as well as for the central data storage of the National Digital Library. Pine trees, ivy, boulders, and flowing water will create a garden atmosphere. The space arched above the podium will be called the street, connecting directly to the podium and park via ramps and stairs. It will be the main architectural element connecting the building's indoor and outdoor spaces.
    The space will be accessible even outside the library's opening hours, connecting to restaurants, relaxation zones, bookstores, and other facilities important for the library's operation. The ceiling and floor will be made from sound-absorbing materials. Panoramic elevators will also allow views into the building.
    In the study zone with free selection, it is planned to use so-called smart shelving, which thanks to special technologies identifies misplaced documents and saves library capacity. Readers engaged in research will find satisfaction in specialized, quiet study rooms.
    An extraordinary security measure will apply to the “heart” of the library, namely the national conservation funds. In the underground storage, they will be served by a crane. The absence of people will allow for a lower concentration of oxygen, which will reduce the risk of fire. If a fire does occur, it is reportedly possible to release a gas that will extinguish it without harming the documents.
    The internal working area of the library will include offices and facilities for library staff. The multifunctional café Oko with a view of the Old Town is expected to be a magnet for visitors.
    The National Library has now prepared new visualizations of the "octopus" design at the behest of heritage conservationists. According to Stoklasová, they should prevent speculation about the height of the building and its placement in the exterior. “The visualizations were prepared with a crane that we erected on site. Thus, it cannot be disputed that it is manipulated,” said Stoklasová.
    On Thursday, a one-month ultimatum given by architect Kaplický to Prague councilors after the final meeting of the National Library team was to expire. According to the server tyden.cz, he is no longer insisting on it. “I am willing to wait even longer,” Kaplický told the server today. A month ago, he informed the councilors that if work on the octopus did not begin within a month, he would cease negotiations with Prague. He even threatened legal action in Strasbourg. The antitrust office is currently deciding on the new library, which has yet to reach any conclusion.