The conservationists, architects, and lawyers will discuss the NK

Prague - In the group that will deal with the placement and appearance of the new National Library (NK) building, will be the director of NK Vlastimil Ježek, mayor Pavel Bém (ODS), Minister of Culture Václav Jehlička, possibly his deputy František Mikeš, and the director of the City Development Department Bořek Votava. Bém announced this at today's meeting of councilors. Other expert teams will consist of heritage preservationists, architects, and lawyers.
"The problem is not political, but related to heritage preservation and expertise," said Bém. According to him, there are five issues related to the possible construction of the library according to Jan Kaplický's study in Letná. These are land, zoning plans, adherence to the rules of the international architectural competition, heritage preservation concerns, and funds for construction, Bém stated.
The architectural competition was for different land than where the new building was supposed to stand, Bém reiterated. If it were to be there, the parcels would have to be exchanged. "The octopus rests elsewhere and does not respect the zoning plan," said the mayor. According to him, its modification would take two years. "The councilors decide on it, without them it cannot be done," noted Bém.
According to Bém, Kaplický's winning design does not comply with the competition rules. Kaplický placed the library's depository underground, which he claims is contrary to the conditions.
"The octopus rests half a kilometer from Prague Castle on the edge of the heritage reservation," outlined the fourth problem Bém. The building is supposed to be in a protective zone of the heritage reservation, for which, according to the mayor, binding rules and restrictions apply. "It is not possible for a 48-meter octopus to stand half a kilometer from the Castle without input from heritage experts," said Bém.
According to him, the last problem is funding for the construction of the building. He recalled that Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek said that the government's priority in Prague is the renovation of Klementinum and the National Museum. The Prime Minister confirmed today that the budget for next year allocates just over 200 million crowns for the new library. However, he said, the next steps must be seriously discussed with the opposition and in Parliament. "If the volume of the library exceeds the originally planned 1.5 billion, then it is really a construction that deserves special attention," he said.
Topolánek also criticized Prague for the approach it has adopted regarding the new library project. He is displeased that the Prague City Hall did not address the issue with the government from the outset. "Without the government, no National Library can be established anywhere and in any form," he stated. He compared the situation regarding the library to the issue of Prague's candidacy to host the Summer Olympics. According to him, the government was not officially informed about the candidacy and did not have the opportunity to express its opinion on the Olympics.
Support for the intention to build the new library building is included in the program statement of the city councilors. "If we want to fulfill the council's program, we must seek solutions. Therefore, we must act," said the mayor.
At the council meeting, supporters of the building according to Kaplický's design in Letná attended, having demonstrated in front of the office beforehand. They held banners "Bém harms Prague" and "Bém yes, but elsewhere". The speeches of the councilors were occasionally interrupted by shouts and whistles.
Bém started his speech lightly, talking about cephalopods. According to him, the closest resemblance to Kaplický's study is the spotted octopus, which lives in Australian seas. "A beautiful little octopus, I see it. But it is 48 meters long, that little girl," said the mayor.
Sharp debates regarding the library began two weeks ago. It became clear that the majority of councilors from the ODS do not want it according to Kaplický's design in Letná. Some representatives of the opposition ČSSD club share a similar opinion.