“Kosovo 🇽🇰 ~The National Library of Kosovo in Pristina”
This was the only site, besides the Bear Sanctuary we were interested in seeing. Big cities usually do not appeal to us, due to the congestion, noise levels, and lack of photographic scenes. If there are significant site to see, we will make the effort in most cases; just not to overnight if we can avoid it.
As we suspected, the library was closed, but unfortunately, there were huge banners hung all over the outside of the building, so we could not see the unique architecture; the reason for going. The building is still very cool, but the photos lacked detail we wanted to see on the structure.
When Mutnjakovic was commissioned to design a library for the ex-Yugoslavian province, the tension between Albanian and Serbian Kosovars was already palpable. Looking for a unifying symbol, he came up with the cube and dome, common features of the Ottoman, Byzantine andIslamicarchitectural styles that define the appearance of the region.
The author’s architectural concept was deeply influenced from architectural regional elements such as cube and dome, two main geometric shapes coming from byzantine and ottoman tradition very present in the Kosovo. Ninety-nine domes of different sizes are distributed in unique order, creating the dynamic structure with multiplied elements of different size. Metal grid used as sunlight protector helps create pleasant environment for readers within the library. It acts at the same time as decoration element coming from Kosovo filigree, relating closer the building with local tradition.
From above, the library looks like a motley cluster of cubes, varying in size and height, rather like a village. The domes supply even, natural light to the reading rooms. The cube shape contributes to the compactness and the sense of protection, which is further reinforced by the aluminum net of hexagons that is draped over the building.
By the time NATO intervened in 1999, Mutnjakovic’s library had become the commando headquarters of the Serbian army.
The National Library of Kosovo is broadly considered to be one of the ugliest building in the world. Sure, if you only consider the outside of the building without proper context, it would be easy to jump to that conclusion. But such would be rather reductive, ignoring the thought that was put into designing it; mainly by including the many domes, reminiscent of Albanian hats).
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Hello and Welcome to our Travel Blog Website, We enjoy writing about our experiences and taking photos of our adventuring along the way. Our names are: Daryl and Pen, but Daryl calls me “Bunny.” We met, quite randomly, whilst both… Read More