In less than 8 months the National Technical Library in Prague 6 will open to the general public. Inconspicuously hidden in the middle of the Technical University campus, the building is remarkable for a number of technological and architectural details which are quite exceptional in the Czech Republic at present. The most significant example of this is the power and energy supply system which has been designed and installed specifically to cope with the high demands of the building's year-round operation.
 ))
The National Technical Library has a number of remarkable technological and architectural details.
 ))
The National Technical Library at night.
It is expected that the new library will draw up to 900,000 visitors every year. Apart from the National Technical Library, which is being moved here from the Klementinum, the new building will also house the Municipal Library now situated in Èeskoslovenské armády Street in Prague 6. The architects and designers had to take these requirements into account so the design for the new library introduces a number of new features reflecting the need to cope with the demands of a busy library.
One of the features, for example, is the first use of an asphalt-based floor covering material, so-called "bitu-terrazzo", which is laid at 2000 C and which significantly reduces noise levels in the building. Another interesting design feature is the fire prevention system which will reduce damage to the library stock that would be caused by using water to put out a fire. This is because the library is fitted with an automatic water mist-spraying fire extinguishing system which is more property/asset-protective, does not require a large-capacity storage vessel and facilitates the installation of the pipework system within the building.
A special design feature of the library is an energy-efficient building stressing a sensitive approach to environmental issues. The library itself is designed as a compact open-plan space with an interior spatial arrangement respecting the orientation of the building. Large open rooms are situated along the south-east, south-west and north-west sides of the building, the office rooms are on the north-east side of the building. This arrangement helps to reduce the solar heat load and at the same time to provide more even daylight distribution within the building. The solid concrete constructions serve to accumulate heat or cold. For ventilation it was decided to use a hybrid ventilati
Related News
