| NATIONAL LIBRARY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC |
Prague, Czechoslavia, 2006
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The National Library of the Czech Republic is clearly divided into three horizontal zones. The lowest of the three zones houses Archives and Collections below grade. By nature of its primary function of book and archive storage is representative of a conventional arrangement of rooms and stacks. On the south a vertical cut into the ground allows for a garden at the lowest of the three levels and brings south light into all three levels. A light slot around the perimeter of this plinth brings light down into the spaces below. A forth level below grade is for approximately 180 cars. The upper three levels contain the more public functions of the library and the areas of the library with the largest concentration of employees. Divisions and subdivisions are treated as free volumes that allow all spaces to have view and natural light. The exterior of these large room/volumes are clad in a variety of materials ... glass, metal mesh, wood, plastics etc. The unifying exterior skin is large glass panels. The two level plaza between the upper and lower zones is a large public space, at one meter above the street level, that opens to the park beyond.
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