The external appearance of the building is based on the solution in the architectural competition from 2004. The building is designed in the shape of an elevated cube, which is slightly rotated in relation to the main street. This emphasises the exceptional solitary character of this important cultural building.
The vertical layout of the building's functions allows the individual floors accessible to visitors to be interconnected, creating an extremely interesting spatial concept for the entire building. The higher floors are set back in selected places and the library space becomes vertically continuous. At the interconnecting points of the floors there are sculpturally distinctive spiral staircases. Bookshelves on each floor alternate with glass-enclosed team study cells and study or relaxation areas, making the scale of the interior more subtle and attractive.
The entire building is based on a 120x120cm plan module to which the articulation of the façade, ceilings, partitioning and interior furnishings are related. This concept allows for variability of the layout depending on the development of the requirements for the internal layout of the building.
The front envelope of the building consists of an external metal shading grid, which, like the other façade elements, is finished in black in contrast to the surrounding buildings.
The visible load-bearing elements of the structure are executed in exposed concrete, the floors are proposed in a shade of light grey, the ceilings in galvanised wire mesh, the joinery of the walls in black.
Translated with DeepL
In 2004, a competition was announced for the development of an urban, architectural and operational solution for the new library building. A total of 43 proposals were submitted, the winner was Ladislav Kuba and Tomáš Pilař with a project that was called the Black Cube.
Due to the relatively long time from the original design to the implementation, the concept of the interior space was also gradually changing. Bookshelves on most floors gave way to spaces for education, interactive exhibitions and creative activities. The preview of how a modern library should function was inspired by new similar buildings in Europe. The future internal layout will thus offer visitors many new services and experiences.
Translated with DeepL
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