Prague's futuristic national library

Prague is to have a futuristic building - a new national library. Perched on top of a plateau and looking like a yellow and purple octopus, it will preside over the city. Jan Kaplicky, London's Czech-born star architect, has been entrusted with the project. Lenka Zlamalova is delighted that the jury has chosen Kaplicky's design. "This is the kind of building Prague has needed for a long time now. Every city with a distinguished architectural past is in danger of becoming too tied up in that past." She notes that Prague resembles a museum - revered by tourists but in which preservationists allow architects no freedom for creativity. "Cities like Paris or London have no problem with putting contemporary architecture next to historical buildings. The futurist pyramids infused the Louvre with new energy. The octopus is unusual, but many buildings we now admire were described as unusual when they were built. Architecture should not only reflect 'genius loci' but also the 'passage of time'."

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