What is Blob? Why is it called so?

We hear the word Blob every day. Almost everyone has an opinion about Kaplicky’s new National library. But what does the word blob mean?

Among the creators of such buildings it is common to talk about ‘Blobitecture’ or ‘Blobism’. It is a kind of architecture originating in late 20th – early 21th century. It is significant for anti-urban, anti-contextual buildings resembling large blobs with reptile-like carapaces.

For this style typical are buildings in organic, amoebic shape. Sometimes, it is called green, or ‘environmental’ architecture.

In the Czech Republic, Blobism was first discussed at the end of 90’s. Names connected to the term are those of world-top engineers. For example Norman Foster with his Philosophical library in Berlin (top left). Famous Frank Gehry, the author of Prague Dancing House with his Guggenheim museum (middle right) and finally, Jan Kaplicky, with his controversial, but famous building Selfridges in Birmingham (left).

Those are probably the most famous Blob buildings. Whether Prague will have its Blob, remains a question, as Blobitecture is unspeakably ugly for some, visionary for others.

For the complex information about Prague Blob Library click here