Footprints aren't just a carbon concern. More and more architects are building underground in order to preserve a building's landscape. An example of this has just been approved in Prague's historic quarter. The New National Library of the Czech Republic, designed by Jan Kaplicky, was chosen from 350 entries from an international design competition for the library. His 131,000 square foot concept includes reading rooms and public spaces above ground, with the library’s 10 million books housed underground and retrievable via an automated system that brings tomes to readers in less than five minutes
The design, which is planned to be completed in 2011, has had some naysayers, including the Mayor of Prague as well as the President of the Republic who worry about the design’s place among
Prague’s historic architecture, the public (at least 12,000 city inhabitants) have petitioned to have the modern building constructed, and Kaplicky has appeared on national television to debate its merits with the city's mayor.
See also:
- Giant Light Boxes the Answer to Museum's Underground Expansion
- Bunker Touring in Berlin
- Sub-Urban Renewal
- Gimme Shelter: Subterranea Britannica
[via PSFK]
