One Eyed One Horned...

I saw this photo today next to a headline titled "Czech National Librarian fired over library design."

And I thought, "Well yeah."

But if you read the article it's all about how the competition for building designs was done "at variance with the law."

"Cieslar said the ministry's analyses rule out the possibility of continuing the preparation of the construction of Kaplicky's project dubbed a blob or an octopus." I guess the validity of the competition has been challenged and "implies serious financial risks for the state."

Honestly, they're a little sketchy on the details, aren't they? It's almost too easy to suspect that the design that "won" the competition was so hideous that they decided to do whatever it took to pull the plug.

Wait, did you not get a good enough look? I know I didn't. Let's see some more.

Notice how it fits right in with the city?

See how the people are just squiggly lines? The building looks perfect for them! (Not so much for real, actual, human-type people.)









A lot of people really like it, actually. Unfortunately, a lot of the people in power aren't as excited. One article reads, "The Mayor doesn't like it. The current President of the Republic doesn't like it. Even the director of Prague's National Gallery ... says the striking conceit is too 'strong' for the delicate grain and texture of the historic quarter."

Well, I've been staring at it for awhile now, and it's starting to grow on me. Get it? Grow? Just kidding. Really, it is. I don't know why I'm so obsessed by this. I guess I just think it's so outlandish (out·land·ish: freakishly or grotesquely strange or odd, as appearance, dress, objects, ideas, or practices; bizarre), that it's amazing that it won at all.

In case you are just as stunned as I am by this, let me save you some time by providing a few links:

Lots of bloggers approve of the building for its eco-friendly features.
Here are some photos of the other entries in the competition.
Some architectural images of the building.