Cunek told journalists after a cabinet meeting that the government had set aside 1.9 billion crowns for the library, while Kaplicky's project would cost approximately three billion. "This means that about one billion crowns is lacking," Cunek said. He said as deputy prime minister he intended to support the investment during the cabinet's talks on the budget. The financial means that are required should not be allotted next year, but in two or three years so that Czech-born architect Kaplicky adapts NK design for original plot ...
Czech press survey ...
Greek weightlifters test positive ...
Czech KDU-CSL head says dispute over U.S.
report solved ...
Czech Christian Democrat leader ready to re-enter cabinet - press ... the new building can start to be constructed, Cunek said. He said apart from the money it was also of key importance that the Prague City Court transfer the plots on Letna to the National Library. Cunek said though he personally liked the project he was aware that it was controversial and that views on it in the public differ. The Prague organisation of the senior ruling Civic Democrats (ODS) and President Vaclav Klaus are against the construction of the building on Letna. Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek (ODS) said last autumn the NK new building was not among his government's priorities. Topolanek did not take part in today's government meeting as he is on holiday in Italy. While Cunek estimated the costs of the construction at three billion crowns, Culture Minister Vaclav Jehlicka (KDU-CSL) recently spoke about four billions and Prague Mayor Pavel Bem (ODS) even said it would cost six billion crowns. Jehlicka, who is to meet NK director Vlastimil Jezek today, said recently that it was not possible to build something for which there was no money. He said it was impossible to put up an international tender without setting financial limits. The London-based Future Systems studio of Czech-born architect Kaplicky won the international contest for the project, held according to the rules of the International Union of Architects (UIA) last year. Kaplicky's project of a nine-storey building shaped as a broad pyramid with rounded edges, dubbed "octopus," has raised controversial reactions and divided the public as well as experts and politicians into its supporters and opponents. Teams of experts and politicians have been discussing the circumstances of the new library's seat for a couple of months now and the NK fears that it will not have the new premises in time. The National Library, now seated in the Klementinum historical building in the centre of Prague, badly needs a new building because it is running out of capacity and the conditions for keeping books are not suitable. Jezek expressed fears that if the project were postponed all the time, the money would not suffice for any building in the end since the prices of construction works had been constantly rising. The only solution would then be to complete the NK depository in Prague-Hostivar and keep transporting books from there to Klementinum, Jezek said, calling it the worst possible alternative - costly and harming the environment and the book stock. He indicated he might resign from his post in such a case. National Gallery director Milan Knizak recently proposed to locate the library in Prague's Congress Centre (KCP) that would need a reconstruction for this. ($1=15.960 Czech crowns)
(Ceske Noviny)
more info >>
<< Back