Hasta La Ideas

When architect Jan Kaplicky a concert hall in the Czech Republic. That seemed like at least something of a consolation if we couldn’t see his career-defining building made real: the Prague National Library. But now some new life might have been put back into the long-dormant project, all due to Kaplicky’s sudden death. The people have Prague have begun to stage demonstrations and contact government officials, demanding that the building be constructed and to defy the Czech president’s vow “to block the project with his own body.” Here’s to hoping it works and it sounds like it might just be, at least to some degree:

On Monday, Prague mayor and Klaus follower Pavel Bem gave a hint of a possible concession.

“The ‘Octopus’ or ‘Blob’ design is interesting, extremely attractive from the architectural point of view but it can’t stand on Letna,” he said, without elaborating.

A pro-Octopus petition has been started by one of Bem’s predecessors, architect Jan Kasl who stepped down as mayor in 2002 to protest what he called right-wing councillors “catering to their personal interests rather than to those of their fellow citizens”.

Whatever happens, our thoughts are with you, architecture-loving rabble rousers of Prague! Viva Kaplicky!

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