An international project competition in two phases is launched for the design of the new National Library of the Czech Republic in Prague. This building of 50 000 m2 will house the collections of the modern period as well as the National Library services. It will be built in the Borough of Letna within the protected sector of the city of Prague.

In conformity with the UNESCO-UIA regulations, this competition has been
approved by the International Union of Architects – UIA

The second stage of the competition will run between November 2006 and March 2007.

• Vlastimil Jezek, Director General of the National Library of the Czech Republic
• Pavel Bém, Lord-Mayor of the city of Prague
• Irene Wiese-von Ofen, representing UNESCO (Germany)
• Zaha Hadid, architect (United Kingdom)
• Eva Jiricná, architect (United Kingdom)
• Dominique Perrault, architect (France)
• Petr Bílek, architect (Czech Republic)
• José Grinberg, architect (Mexico)
And the following deputy members
• John Eisler, architect (Czech Rep./USA)
• Tony McLaughlin, environmental engineer (United Kingdom)
• Bohdana Stoknasová, Director of Library Collections and Services of the National Library of the Czech Republic
• Jan Knezinek, Director of the Heritage Department of the city of Prague.

At the conclusion of the first stage, the jury will select 8 projects the authors of which will be invited to participate in the second stage. A fee of 20 000 € will be paid to each individual or team selected.

Atotal of 350 000 € is reserved for prizes that will be awarded as follows:
1st Prize: 160 000 euro; 2nd Prize: 120 000 euro; 3rd Prize 70 000 euro.
1st mention: 35 000 euro; 2nd mention 30 000 euro; 3rd mention: 25 000 euro.

The competition is open to architects worldwide, individually or in teams, and who have the right to practice the profession in their countries.
Registration can be made by post, by fax or by e-mail.
The, non reimbursable, registration fee is 6 000 CZK (212 € approx.) will be paid by bank transfer to the following account:

National Library (Národní knihovna)
Bank’s namee : Komercni banka
Bank identification: 0100
Swift code: KOMBCZPP
IBAN: CZ1401 000000 356 419 570 237
Address:
Komercni banka, a.s., Staromestske nam. 24, 110 00 Praha 1
(Czech Republic)

Duly registered participants, from 2 June 2006, can download the competition documents on the competition site.

Participants should present their projects on six sheets, format A1 (594mm X 840 mm) that comprise:
• The general layout plan, in scale 1/500e
• Floor plans, sections and elevations in scale 1/500e
• Schematic presentation of interior and functional areas
• A general perspective of the architectural design
• A descriptive report of 3 pages maximum (format A4 210 mm X 297 mm), written in English
• A simple volume model in scale 1:500
• Two CD-Rom will present both the graphic documents and the written report in .pdf

Competition Site
www.nkp.cz/competition_library/index.htm

Competition Secretariat
National Library of the Czech Republic
Ing. Lili Langová, Investments Section,
Klementinum 190, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic
Tel.: +420 221 663 260
Tel.: +420 221 663 195 for Czech competitors
Fax.: +420 221 663 261
lili.langova@nkp.cz