Nationalbibliothek, Prag

Prague
Competition
2006

The project for the new National Library of the Czech Republic was developed from a play on geometry. It played with the geometry of the all-dominating surface of Letenská Plán. The surface of Letenská Plán is slit, opened and turned up on three sides in the area of the building plot. This created 2 fields of reference: one horizontal and recessed into the ground, and the other rotated out of the ground and shelf-like. Together, the two fields formed the new National Library of the Czech Republic, developed from the surface of Letenská Plán and embedded in the same.

The abstract, geometric shapes of the vertical and horizontal spaces assimilated the roads and paths of the surroundings and take them high above the city.

The horizontal part of the building is embedded into the surface of Letenská Plán nearly flush with the ground. Lighting for the workspaces is ensured by means of a deep, 3-level inner courtyard. Skylights in the courtyard allow daylight to penetrate to the parking level below. Basically, the horizontal part of the building is assigned the internal, non-public functions at 5 levels:

Acquisition Division
National Bibliography and Cataloging Division
Collection Management and Preservation
Library System Department
Information Technology
Library Operation and Management Division

The vertical, shelf-like part of the building is basically assigned the public and emblematic functions on 18 narrow, transparent and in part sculpturally formed levels:

Public Services with
Main Library Hall,
Open Stacks,
Reading Rooms,
as well as
Parliament Library,
National Archival Collection

The upright, shelf-like part of the building permits a view of the city, while the city, in turn, has a view of the superimposed reading and study shelves. The National Archival Collection and the Parliament Library are distinctly represented in the building. They are clearly legible, brought to light, so to speak. The National Archival Collection is visible to the city as a self-contained, raised building element.


Collaborators

Mitarbeiter | Collaborator
Mitarbeiter | Collaborator
Mitarbeiter | Collaborator
Mitarbeiter | Collaborator

Consultants
Tragwerksplanung | Structural Engineering
Basics 11/1
Nationalbibliothek Prag
Cutting and twisting up of Letenská Plán, 1  
Aufschneiden und Aufdrehen des Letenská Plán, 1  
Nationalbibliothek Prag
Cutting and twisting up of Letenská Plán, 2  
Aufschneiden und Aufdrehen des Letenská Plán, 2  
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Cutting and twisting up of Letenská Plán, 3  
Aufschneiden und Aufdrehen des Letenská Plán, 3  
Nationalbibliothek Prag
Letenská Plán, twisted up  
Aufgedrehter Letenská Plán  
Nationalbibliothek Prag
"Map" for the new National Library  
"Karte" für die Neue Nationalbibliothek  
Nationalbibliothek Prag
Paths to the new National Library  
Wege zur Neuen Nationalbibliothek  
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Plans 22/2
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Diagram level 7  
Diagramm Ebene 7  
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Diagram level 2  
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Sections 11/1
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Section 1  
Schnitt 1  
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Section 2  
Schnitt 2  
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Space allocation plan  
Raumprogramm  
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Views 33/3
Nationalbibliothek, Prag Ansichten 1_left4_300_01_4c_sharp
New National Library of the Czech Republic in Prague, east view  
Neue Staatsbibliothek der Tschechischen Republik in Prag, Ansicht Ost  
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New National Library of the Czech Republic in Prague, north view  
Neue Staatsbibliothek der Tschechischen Republik in Prag, Ansicht Nord  
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New National Library of the Czech Republic in Prague, west view  
Neue Staatsbibliothek der Tschechischen Republik in Prag, Ansicht West  
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New National Library of the Czech Republic in Prague, south view  
Neue Staatsbibliothek der Tschechischen Republik in Prag, Ansicht Süd  
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Nationalbibliothek, Prag Ansichten view1_nlcr_f1_montage_03_f2himmel
Level of Letenská Plán, top of Hradcany Castle in the background  
Die Neue Staatsbibliothek von Osten auf der Ebene Letenská Plán, im Hintergrund die Spitzen der Prager Hradschin  
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Nationalbibliothek, Prag Ansichten view2_nlcr_f2_montage_04
View 2 from the east: the new National Library of the Czech Republic (NLCR), Hradcany Castle in the background  
Von Osten 2 die neue Staatsbibliothek der Tschechischen Republik (NLCR), im Hintergrund der Prager Hradschin  
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Models 33/3
Nationalbibliothek, Prag Modelle 01_process
Model 1-1, levels tilted up  
Modell 1-1, aufgeklappte Ebenen  
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Model 1-2, levels tilted up  
Modell 1-2, aufgeklappte Ebenen  
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Model 1-3, levels tilted up  
Modell 1-3, aufgeklappte Ebenen  
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Model 1-4, levels tilted up  
Modell 1-4, aufgeklappte Ebenen  
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Model 1-5, levels tilted up  
Modell 1-5, aufgeklappte Ebenen  
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Nationalbibliothek, Prag Modelle 08
Model 2-1  
Modell 2-1  
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Modell 2-2  
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Modell 2-6  
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Modell 3-1  
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Modell 3-2  
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Modell 3-3  
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Model 3-4  
Modell 3-4  
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