The fate of the blob project for Prague probably depends on Future Systems

Prague - The fate of the project for the new building of the National Library (NK) likely depends on how the architectural firm Future Systems handles the design. The studio, led by the late architect Jan Kaplický, will become the owner of the project in March. If they keep it, they can build the blob anywhere else - but that is not what Kaplický wanted.
    If the studio were to leave the design with the National Library after the two-year period, negotiations about the construction in Prague could continue. According to information from ČTK, this is what Kaplický intended. However, no new opinions have yet been expressed from the relevant authorities that are to decide on the construction. The library has not received land from the city.
    According to the library director Pavel Hazuka, it is premature to consider whether the construction could eventually take place in Prague. “The design is the work of a whole team of people; if someone wanted to return to it and wanted to implement it, the design is definitely not dead,” he told ČTK.
    Prague states that the construction will not happen because the NK does not have land. According to the city, there was a condition for the sale of the land: the city would sell it if the NK submitted a building permit by the end of 2008. The library did not have one, and the Prague representatives did not extend the deadline at their December meeting, nor did they even discuss it.
    However, NK spokesperson Kateřina Nováková told ČTK today that the mentioned condition did not apply, as it was enshrined in a contract for a future contract. The library signed this in July 2007, but the magistrate has not yet done so. A purchase contract was to follow this contract.
    In 2006, Prague representatives resolved that under certain conditions, they would sell the land to the library for 31.5 million crowns. One of the conditions of the resolution was that Prague would first conclude a contract for a future contract with the NK, and only after the NK provided a building permit and financing for the construction, would the city sell the land. Since the future contract was not concluded, the representatives' resolution is no longer valid, said magistrate spokesman Jiří Wolf today.
    In addition to never signing the future contract, the magistrate also added a requirement to the text of the contract that the NK agree to cover the costs of relocating the tram loop and changing the engineering network relocations. According to former NK director Vlastimil Ježek, the city officials did not respect the text of the representatives' resolution nor the verbal statements of city officials. The NK rejected this requirement.
    Ježek, however, requested Mayor Pavel Bém (ODS) last May to extend the deadline for submitting a valid building permit and verifying financing for the construction until January 30, 2011. However, the city did not address the extension of the deadline; Bém only promised to present a summary report on the development of the entire project at the January meeting.
    The mayor also stated that the land considered for the library would remain with the city. The city wishes to build a park on it and excludes commercial use of this location.