Jan Kaplicky's Last Project May Never Be Built

摘要

Doubt surrounds the future of the ambitious National Library for the Czech Republic, the last project of architect Jan Kaplicky, who died suddenly last week at the age of 71. The architect had been battling with Prague authorities for over two years over the competition-winning designs for the library by his practice Future Systems. The Prague Assembly scrapped the library in December, claiming it would be impossible to build, but Kaplicky had pledged to continue the fight with opposition politicians supportive of the building. The terms of the original competition expire on 30 March, after which the authorities will be required to pay Kaplicky's estate for the designs and will be free to start the search for a new architect.