Death Star of Minsk
This building was not so long ago erected in Minsk by a personal order of Belarus president Mr. Lukashenko. Locals joke: “Lukashenko had just learned to read and decided to build a library dedicated to this new ability he acquired.”
He wanted to build an impressive building and therefore made everyone in the country pay for it. Students had to bring money to school for several months. Teachers are still having a part of their salary taken out to pay for this building. Well at least that locals say.
Foreign printed guide books also sometimes are not so serious about this structure: “Some say it looks like a diamond. We say it looks like the Death Star. In either case there’s no denying that the collosal, new home for the National Library now being constructed on the city outskirts is an example of the Soviet ‘bigger-is-better’ school of architecture. Worse yet, this pet project of Lukashenko’s is partly paid for by money donated ‘voluntarily’ (meaning not voluntarily) by students and school children. When completed, it’ll be big enough to house a whopping 15 million books. The National Library only has 8 million in its collection, so there should be plenty of space leftover for restaurants, gyms, and for the president to roam the hallways in a black cloak, breathing Vader-like while dramatic music plays in the background.”
Of course, the most nice view of it is at night when its lightning is on. It allows to show animated scenes on its uncommon not flat but polyhedron many-sided polyhedral surface. We have a video down this page too.
And the video!
some photos via flickr
| Tags: belarus, minsk, russian architecture |
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Just another dictator toy. I am quite surprised it was not in his image.
FUCK YOU ! YOU FUCKING FAG !
did we find a sensitive spot of Pros?
Everyone make fun of Belarus everytime Pros talks.
Yes, my dick gets real sensitive when inserted in to the male anus.
Is it a FAG talking? It seems like it.
No, we found another faggy impersonator.
I have to say yes Lucowack is bit wacky but the building is beautiful. Until the good people of Belarus are willing to die in the street for change they should eat the crap he gives them. We outsider’s and that includes the drunk pedofile ruskies should shut up and mind our oun business. And just stay the hell out.
Chuck Howell USAID
So should I assume that throwing meaningless insults is as far as your vodka intoxicated brain can stretch, like with most stupid russians? Or do you wish to be original and defend the Last Dictator in Europe?
I think he’s an impersonator.
I’m a Baldy Fag
Congratulations! But it’s not important. IGOR IS A BALDY FAG. That’s what is important.
No. Fuck YOU !
Definitely this good looking library is not dictator`s Presidential palace.why you cry from the depth of your ass.this building is public property,for the public by the public through the public.despite president Lukashenko,is elected continuously by his peoples so many Times why you so called western democratic don`t accept his mandete from the peoples of Belarus?might be he is not pro west or like that.in U ASS of A,why you don`t ask your mentally sick president why you spent tax payers money on war against sadows.why he almost demand double budget in every financial year.Lukachenko may be dictator from your western democratic standards but he is the fittest choice for his country.he gain almost 99.999999999999% of votes out of 100%.please respect the peoples mandate. if you don`t accept voters choice you are not able to speak about tru democracy.
there is no such thing as western democracy. there is just a democracy and it either exists or not. democracy is not only getting 99,99% in an election, at least it is not the democracy in a sence the whole mankind except for russia, belarus, china etc understands it. You first get independent media, courts, secured property rights, free speech, free assembly and free cooperation rights as well as release your opposition leaders from jail and then we talk about democracy. concerning bush maybe he is not as bright as someone else, maybe he tries to extend his powers beyond the constitution abusing habeas corpus for instance, comes up with retarded projects as nclb, BUT in January 2009 he’ll be gone for good. Lukashenko won’t be gone till he dies. Ever after he starts say mass murders. Cause he has 99,99% regardless of what YOU think and how YOU wote.
It’s a long time until January 2009. Too long.
There is another way,Lee harvey Oswald.
No thanks. That would make him a hero to the facists. Would it be justice to see Bush and Cheney impeached, then arrested and tried for war crimes?
Yes!
Tha only time I would ever advocate the death penalty, is when it is concerning George W. Bush!
Yes in an ideological circumstances…The WAR INC,on the back of all Neocons.they never be impeached at name of national interest.please tell me CNB,CNN and FOX NEWS are the independent or government funded channels.every time when i saw these channels i listen the same tune as government.they totally ignored all information and views,which are different from the official line.but i must say,vice would be frightful if did not bear a mark…………
You are correct, sir. Only an idiot believes what he reads in the newspapers/corporate press.
Russia,China and Belarus and so on they are potentially threat to U ASS of A.why you Americas impose your brand of democracy.why until now black American is not able to become the president of America.you framed democracy in your terms.if saying democracy is the way of life,way of thinking why you insist on your terms.what about the British democratic system?their system has constitutional monarchy and so called democracy side by side.now you are teaching true values of democracy in IRAQ but until now at least 1 millions of your BAD students are died.because of their illitrecy…please do something practically not advise through the barrel of the fucking guns.you talked about the voting standards and their verification,sir may you have forget about the TEXAS fraud of VOTES by the BUSH.your court decide that damn result.your beloved president may have gone,but your legacy of imposing your American dream on the nations will go on.please re think your plans to re arrange the world.tolerat the view against your own.may be other person,think differently from your`s but do respect of it.
You sir are a fucking idiot. I was born and lived half my life in Belarus, Minsk specifically, and I still have a large chunk of my family there. 99.999% for Lukashenko is a fucking joke and if you’re dillusional enough to believe that this number is legit you are a fucking moron and should shut the fuck up for the sake of not looking stupid.
Lukashenko is a joke of a “president” and I am always depressed to find out about any other stupid shit that he does on a daily basis. The only people in Belarus who actually do vote for him are drunken hill-billies from the country who would sell their own mothers for a bottle of vodka.
Bush may be a retard but he is still a trillion times better than Lukashenko and I would be go dancing naked in the streets out of happiness if Bush took over Lukashenko’s job.
Now go die, you embarassment of your own nation.
You are criminal.enemy of the state.enemy of the peoples mandate.you are fired………..I love lukashenko.
You, sir, are a FUCKING MORON!!!! You are worse than those bush-bots. Bush is just stupid, Lukashenko is plain EVIL. If you can take all of his actions in stride and not worry over it, there is something SERIOUSLY wrong with you. Imposing our views is not something we would, should, or can constitutionally do, but protecting the livelihood and LIVES of people around the world is something we understand, albeit the few of us (*coughCheneycough*) who are doing things for immoral reasons or others (*coughBushcough*) who are plain stupid and take over-the-top measures. Martin Luther King demonstrated the best way to further morality, show your opinions peacefully and ask to be treated fairly. If such a thing is forbidden or punishable as it is in Belarus, then it is clear that the people have never had a say in the country’s affairs.
The current U.S. policy as practiced by the neoconservative (fascists) is indeed arrogant and imperialistic. The neocons like to call it globalism, and what drives this is corporate profit, especialy in the defense and oil industry. As you have said, these people are using the U.S. military and alliances with other right-wing governments to advance this policy (this is not the first time). They maintain power by using the media to spread doubt and fear among the U.S. population.
I am certain that most Americans support a non-interventionist policy, to provide help only when it is asked for. The U.S. should not be interfering with other countries such as Russia by funding phony NGOs and political opponents that undermine the political process wether we agree with that process or not.
As for your question as to why a black American has not been President of the U.S., you know the answer to that question as it pertains to your own country. You know the problems of your country as I know mine. I believe that Russia and the U.S. should be allies not enemies. We have done this before.
I belive that chanse is long gone. Right now, Russia and China should be focusing on turning the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)into an efficient effective military block, which would protect or at least deter any potential attacks or meddling in the internal affairs of sovereign states by imperialist NATO. This is the onlly way to protect independant countires from N.1 aggressor in the world.
oh really you think that by forming a large power block anyone future conflicts will be detered, i encourage you to look at the build up to world war one for an example of this theory put into practise
Wow, you must be brain dead. Each and every one of your arguments is so lacking in common sense and valid arguments that everyone who has read it is now instantly dumber.
That would include you.
Do you really thing that your media is “independent”? Please, take a look a who owns them, and then think again.
You only have TWO choices, that allways represent a bunch of petroleum rich families, and they are always the same.
Bush will be gone, because he have no choice, but another bastard will be elected, because YOU have NO choice. USA presidents were always puppets.
Have any of you been to Belarus? No? Right, then take a trip, I am sure you will enjoy it.
I’ve noticed the corporate line is “democrats are bad in a vague way” when republicans are in power and “both parties are the same, why bother to vote?” when Democrats are in charge. Corporations don’t like Democrats, that’s enough reason to get your ass out and vote Democratic.
God will help you.don`t be so helpless.evolution will take its course.till enjoy joyful life of BELARUS! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
oh really? tell me who owns them then. if everything is owned by petroleum families how come a great chunk of media has liberal bias? CNN and NYT just for instance. and the whole Hollywood is liberal too by the way.
What you need is a clear definition of different concepts. It is true for democracy as i will repeat again there is no such thing as “western democracy”, “us style democracy” etc. You could as well call Germany of 1933 the “german style domocracy”. Neither was germany a democracy nor is russia, belarus, china, cuba, venesuela, etc. no matter what “style of democracy” you call it. Same is for independent media. Sure media can not be independent of everything. Reporters are liable to theit employers, managers are liable to the shareholders and EVERYWHONE in this industry is liable to the reader or watcher - the consumer. This is the way things are done in capitalism. Sure there is conservative media controlled by some people. There is yet also liberal media controlled by others. There is probably some kind of communist/islamist/budhist/anarchist media as well. The main difference you have to understand is that government doesn’t intervene in these matters. So media is independent of the government which is the main point and which is not the case for belarus. And please don’t say it is “belarussian style” independent media. You better make up some other word if you don’t like the most appropriate one, which is “censorship”
If government doesn’t interfere with the media, how do you explain the Bush sock puppets at Fox News?
DISREGARD THAT; I SUCK COCKS
So how long USA has been democratic the way you describe it?
I don’t like Bush much myself. In fact, I think he’s pretty much an idiot. That being said, it’s silly to compare the situation in Belarus with that in the U.S. I’m pretty sure that Lukachenko would be more than willing to devote a large chunk of the Belarus budget to military operations if he believed it was necessary to protect his country from terrorist attacks.
ZAFARAD!!!!!!!!! PLEASE COME BACK TO THIS SITE!!!!!! YOUR COMMENTS WERE COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes sir,i come back again.let tolerate my `cool views` again.i have been sick,for a while,but i am ready to `educate`peoples of the new era.i am trying to sell stuff,which is not valid and able to attract common man in this changing world.live and let live.
+1
but under the official statistics he had 80%
americans consider themself to be the KING of the World. bla bla bla
Is illiteracy in Belarus so alarming that you have to trick people into thinking they are going to the carnival?!
it reminds me of the Discover Science Center in California that also lights up different patterned colours & is oddly shaped.
http://www.family-vacation-getaways-at-los-angeles-theme-parks.com/images/SciCube.gif
INB4 Igor and Pros.
Very cool.
That is absolutely hideous.
Money issues aside, that has to be one of the coolest buildings I’ve ever seen.
Where the fuck do you live, Afghanistan?
You’d be surprised how many gorgeous mansions there are in Afganistan. The NATO forces don’t seem to mind local drug lords building them while the majority of Afgans are starving on the streets. In fact, some NATO officials even join in this sort of enterprise. Good for them!
“enterprise” - meaning Drug Business, not construction.
PENTAGON! ! ! ! ! ! !
at night probybly it is kinda cool but at daytime it looks like many other postsoviet “kind of modern” blocks of concrete decorated with colored mirrors and plastic and stuff.
Hm, I don’t understand all that gloating in media. The guy decided to build a big library. Well, it’s a good thing, at least it’s better than building another shopping mall, imho.
You may dislike the design, but that’s the matter of taste. Money issues? In some countries it’s called taxes.
PS. Personally I don’t like the look, but if a good collection of books would be accumulated there, who cares?
It’s a bad investment for people of a country that is already poor. Wasted money.. libraries are not in high demand ever since computers and internet gained public access. So in this case, it would probably be better for the people to build a shopping mall instead of this library. But hey, they can convert it later.
In the country “that is already poor”, as you said, a new, huge mall is just a mockery. Anyway, these malls are everywhere. The library on the other hand is an ivestment in the future, and a good library is quite rare.
Don’t forget, that libraries lost their popularuty due to the lack of money. Hence, they have hideous collections of books, and the last time they bought new ones was before the collapse of the USSR. It’s natural, nobody wants to read that crap (at best you can find some classics there, or some dusty detective by J. H. Chase).
Internet is not a panacea, though. I can’t find a lot of books I’d like to read (and believe me, I know where to look and don’t care much about author’s rights). But I’m reluctant to buy these books, cause some of them cost up to 500$, and it’s just too much. What if I don’t like it?
So the demand for “paper” books is still high. The only decent library in my city (7 millions of books) is quite crowded. Actually you have to wait in line before you can order a book. Many shops have book rental sections (a substitute to the library), where you can find a lot of recent bestsellers. These sections are rather popular and profitable.
Of course, it would be more reasonable, if Lukashenko spend these money on buying new books for local and school libraries. But still he made an attempt (albeit clumsy) to do something useful for people. No need to bite his head off or mock him for that.
That’s not what i meant. Opening a big shopping mall is just as useless, but at least it would give some jobs to the people.
Like you said, it would be money better spent if they were invested in books or equipment for the schools. I don’t know enough about the country to give further advice on how to rule it better, but i know that you certainly can’t compare its needs to your own country’s.
And why shouldn’t he be criticized? If a random guy on englishrussia.com can come up with better ideas than the PRESIDENT of a country, then damn, it’s a real shame.
That being said, he’s still better than George Bush. Because even a turtle could come up with better solutions and projects than him
Ehm, man, shopping malls are built whith private investment. And there are plenty of them in Belarus. Now, a good public library is an investment in education (yes, central librarys lend needed books to schools and universities, it is way more economic), culture, science, technology… Well, better future for EVERYBODY (even those who has NO access to internet or computers at all).
Play more CIVILIZATION!
If only it was built earlier, then they could have had gunpowder before A.D.
Are you mad or what?you prefare shopping mall over the library.what a sick mindset of yours.the most lasting monumints are the paper monuments.not new version of x box.if i accept your view,for awhile that the paper age is over instead of we live in e world,so we should shut our all universities,colleges and all traditional way of learning.instead of we change these institutions into dance clubs,sex shops and other commercial centers.where you wanna take us Shizo?in the stone age where all peoples are gamming trade every time.in the last,there are three ways the universities,the sea,the court.
DISREGARD THAT; I SUCK COCKS.
Very true, please kill yourself. Belarus would be better off.
YOY ARE FACK AS YOUR PRESIDENT.SHOW YOUR MANHOOD AND COME FORWARD TO SUCK MY COCK…….Texas1.imatition has no intelligence! ! ! ! ! ! !
They should have built a real library like Hessburg Library at the University of Notre Dame. A nice mural of touchdown Jesus would be a nice solute to your superiors.
I like this library. And i like what lukashenko is doing for his country. Karoche.. neshtiak
I love these funky lights, though! Looks like 80’s music video.
Looks like the Russian’s tried to copy Reunion Tower in Dallas and ended up really screwing things up.
Come on Texas1, you must know the difference between Russian and Belarus by now?
What happened to all of our nice friends from Estonia? What happened to the Polish Grandma?
I think some of the Estonian nazis like “hsk” have been banned. But I do miss Polish Grandma, she was hilarious
Yes, Belarus is a smaller, less developed, more fascist version.
Yes all over the world every one copying American culture,like walking on two legs,seeing from two eyes,eating from their own mouth.enough dude come out from your virtual cocoon.face the reality of time,now time is really chnaged.enjoy and let the enjoy.
If time has changed then why is Russia still stuck in their nutty cold war routines?
Yes, I guess russia is the one installing the provocative missile defence shield which is bound to start a new arms race. I guess Russia is the one spreading sick anti-russian propaganda in the media to influence and manipulate public opinion. I guess russia is the one spending millions on fake NGO’s in order for them to be used as resources to overthrow government of a ssovereign state. Or perhaps we have already been here before?
Another lie.why NATO still exist after soviets are gone long time ago.why NATO aggressively encircled Russia.why you Yankees stationed missile defence in Check repulic and Poland.you feel threats from Iran and N Korea and from any thing but you tight rope around Russia.you feel every country is your neighbor..,and you have the right to fuckup him.but time has changed.USA will never ever be shifted on mars,you enjoy same reactions as you act somewhere else.`he does not cleans himself of his sins who denies them`.
Very good texas1. Now, what does this look like?
http://www.inkblottestwallpaper.com/biginkblot3.html
What a ghastly looking building. Very ’soviet’ in design. A very visual example of all that is rotten in Belarus.
What a shame.
The only ’soviet’ thing about this building is it’s size… Well, if you think about it, American skyskrapers are not small either, so there’s realy nothing ’soviet’ about this. Stop thinking in cliches.
I guess that Russians just don’t know what is tasteful and what is ugly.
a) it’s inane generalization.
b) they are Belorussians, for God’s sake!
They know very well about fake and authentics…let start thinking about yours.you might be wear wolf skin but never act like that.dear TEXAS1……..SHOW YOUR REAL AMERICAN COURAGE….don`t hide behind the wall.in all companies there are more fools than wise.
Would it be better if he just had spent it on expanding the army , like everybody else does?
Now, people can read for a bit and start thinking for themselves.
After drinking vodka…..just jock,you are right.
This is a nice example of what Eastern Europe and Russia see as prestigious. Prestige is very very important in the area. It stems from a deeply rooted minority complex.
In Western Europe this stuff is perceived as some sort of Disneyworld-like construction which one cannot really take serious. Build to impress, basically. The responsible politicians do not seem to see that the contrast between buildings like this and the average buildings around is actually underlining the stupidity / ugliness of one side and the poor quality and poverty of the other side.
It certainly resembles Epcot center although this is one ugly atrocity.
Quite unlike this…
http://www.dallassky.com/bldg15.htm
That looks absolutely hideous! I cannot believe the design of this monstrosity was ever approved. I mean, even rednacks must have some taste..
Hey, at least the money spent on this ugly thing wasn’t spent on killing people.
True..
What do you know? You have only lived in the two greatest shit holes of Europe.
Oh, I see. It actually looks pretty cool. I was wrong.
http://www.visitortips.com/images/gallery/destinations/usa/texas/dallas/fullsize/dallas.jpg
Dear “John from Kansas” impersonator (texas1),
You have misunderstood my point. The Reunion Tower is just as cool as the Minsk library. Such machine like high-tech structures are in a different catagory compared to “traditional” architecture. These buildings are intended to convey a dynamic optimism. They are meant to say “This is where things are happening (bring money)”. In the late 1800’s the Eiffel Tower was considered both a horror and a marvel.
Are you in federal correction facility?where you enjoy 3000 years short imprisonment or you are mentally retard.think!! if you able to think,you are nothing but bad dream.you will find so many huge dicks in Russia.you are still child after sucking huge cocks ….
Doesn’t look any worse then the Lloyds building in London.
God bless Lukashenko !
This project is not complete! By completion it will resemble Lukashenko’s head.
I think this building looks cool. It’s a bit squarish but that gives it character… in 10 years the western “soft” look will wane and everyone will love this building.
Anyway, kinda reminds me of the Shanghai Pearl with the lights… just that this bldg has a “chin” (some edges).
Seriously though, I AM gay, but there’s no reason to judge
Nope. I’m a sober. But IGOR IS A BALDY FAG.
Reminds me a little bit of the library at the U of San Diego:
Library at U of SD
Though I admit, it was a LOT smaller, still quite an amazing structure.
I have to admit I looked at that building and thought: “Treehouse”
Is that good or bad?
Public architecture. One of three subjects guaranteed to rile people up(God and politics being the other two).
dude.. it lights up. = )
I think that the Russians are a little like the French. They have a penis inferiority complex and want to build large falic symbols to hide their inadequacies.
Hey! The first “John from Kansas” impersonator. What an honor.
what the hell is there to complain about? The guy built a public library and you’re chastising him for it? It’s not very attractive looking, but for fuck’s sake, who cares. Looks like a great public work to me, particularly in this day and age where libraries are ignored and being built less and less.
jesus christ… 1) that building is fucking stupid 2) zafarad, die in a fire 3) once he’s on fire, someone pour gasoline on him to keep the blaze going.
morons.
WTF is zafarad? Sounds like a damn muslim. God bless the US!
Sound like damn New Nazi.GOD bless all over the world.how racist you are mother fucker.instead of replying our questions you show your hidden agenda.we fucked Nazis half a century ago and again we dump your asses in deep graves.
Hi spASS rocket.thaks a lot your comments are medals for me.i thik i am successful to convey my views.
I just like the music on the video clip…
and is it coincidence or irony (or too early in the day)that my anti-spam word was “lenin”?
Given that my CAPTCHA is “soviet”, I sense a running theme.
Coolest Hack Ever: Hack into the light system of the library, and use it to display a pornographic movie for the whole city to enjoy.
CAPTCHA: vodka
I have to say yes Lucowack is bit wacky but the building is beautiful. Until the good people of Belarus are willing to die in the street for change they should eat the crap he gives them. We outsider’s and that includes the drunk pedofile ruskies should shut up and mind our oun business. And just stay the hell out.
Chuck Howell USAID
Because in soviet russia, the books read you.
ÇOK GÜZEL BİR KÜTÜPHANEYMİŞ.KÜTÜPHANE DEDİĞİN DIŞ GÖRÜNÜŞÜ İLEDE İNSANLARI ÇEKMESİNİ BİLMELİ. UMARIM TÜRKİYEMİZDEDE KÜTÜPHANELERE BU ŞEKİLDE DEĞER VERİRLER.
Minsk is in Belarus! Not in Russia! Ingrates!
ahhahahah. Damn soviets got so awful taste on EVERYTHING
There…Needs…To be a rave in the parking lot. Hands down.
It’s better than spending 300 million pounds on a tramline and then closing 20 schools (Edinburgh).
I wouldn’t mind visiting it just for a holiday.
Well, it’s not Calatrava, but it’s not a simple box, either!
The lights are a brilliant touch!
It’ll show up in some future Sci-Fi movie, I’ll bet.
Just be glad you don’t live in Prague…
Future Systems wins Czech National Library Competition
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/future_systems.php
Fortunately, there are plenty of better-looking ones!
Librophiliac Love Letter: A Compendium of Beautiful Libraries
http://www.curiousexpeditions.org/2007/09/a_librophiliacs_love_letter_1.html
Well I have noticed that people dont get that the main point isnt in architecture but in library itself… I dont know why people see all the negative sides about this library when there are only positives….
Why build library??? My reasoning that the president just wanted to be in history books for building something usefull for the country….. Trust me the best investment is library and not some gym’s, hotels, airports, and malls.
They only better way he could have spent the money if he improved education and build more free universities which they lack.
I myself from belarus and for those who dont know….
7 years ago the prices where increadebly low compare to the rest of Europe….And now they are on high standards…
exsample: 7 years agop you could buy 1 room apartment for 8-15 grand now it will cost 60-100 grand… The prices went up crazy for the past few years… So those who are smart found the way out, those who arent are alcoholics…
My view about Lukashenko is that yes he is a dictator but he is a good patriot and will lead and have lead Belarus out of it’s poverty and make it profitable and on the same high standards as the rest of Europe.
At least Belarus has a culture(a noticable one) unlike America
This library is great at least its better than nothing…
Who gives a flying shit if Lukashenko is a dictator? Dictators have advantages that the “democratic” nations of the west don’t have- they are seldom corrupted by petrolium or oil companies, and they can get shit done fast instead of sending law from place to place taking needless months to get nothing done.
Anyone who disagrees? Well then FUCK you up the ass you motherfucking, cocksucking, shit-eating, cockless, fucked-up shitty cunt, virgin! YOur like a pile of smoldering shit and a world class FAG.
FUCK YEAH, PUSSIES!
that’s my library
we should build it more in west
very nice building, too bad it was built by a bitch dictaor and bespredelshik just for show off. Zhive Belarus
It’s a library, people. How ironic.
I think everyone who has demonstrated an unusually limited vocabulary in these discussions (i.e. using foul language), and an unusually limited imagination (i.e. hurling immature insults in lieu of using reason and intellect to respond to differing opinions) should immediately trot themselves over to their local library to:
1. find a dictionary, build their vocabulary, and learn to express themselves more eloquently, and
2. find a book about the art of debate, to learn how to partipate in vibrant discussion - stating and listening to opposing points of view in a productive and respectful manner.
NO wonder the world is in such a disheveled state!
Very well put.
Hmm… So I’m replying to a comment made quite a few months ago.
My old town/city, built a newer library which wasn’t all that great looking, but stood out like a sore thumb and made people notice it.
The benefit of that is everybody got used to it after a while, and it became a place for kids and other groups to hang out.
They provided comfortable chairs, beanbags, headphones near every seat for radio. And tv in a few sections.
Computers with some great learning aids.
In short, it is now a very enjoyable place to hangout in.
Now, the library in my new hometown, is just as cool.
Nothing flash to look at, basically an old building really, but with one huge metal… facade of sorts, bolted to the front.
What makes it cool, is it has a cafe, free internet use, a very striking kids section.
Also, attached to a museum of sorts, one that has some rather fun exhibitions on at times, such as a t.rex skeleton, and best of all, the young inventors show!
I think the buiding is neat. Now, would someone who ‘d like to earn $500.00 U.S. tell me if Luda (last name unknown) lives at 2460045 Byelorussia; HOMYEL, Olimpik St; House 16; apartment 96. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY! NOT a joke whatsoever. If you don’t believe me, leave message and I will allow yoou to call me. A close up photo of this person would also help immensely. She is missing. This is very important. Thank You.
Tim,
I know Luda. What do you want with her?
Alan
PLEASE……..
Got scammed recently?
that was the coolest thing i have ever seen in my gothic life!!!
Disregard, I don’t suck cocks!
[...] directa del presidente Lukashenko. Es una biblioteca. Los lugareños la llaman, muy apropiadamente, La Estrella de la Muerte de Minsk. Molestos porque todo el país tuvo que pagarla de su bolsillo –los estudiantes debían llevar [...]
ironically, Belorusian leader - most democratic ruler in both Eastern and Westerns Europe.
I got tied from this whining “Lukashenko is bad, everithing Soviet is shit”. Death Star is realy funny , but presenting facts spoils the joke. And i misunderstood - Lukashenko eats new-born infants?
The fourth photo was taken by Aleks Dorohovich. Original you can see here - http://flickr.com/photos/isz/238737089/in/set-1138714/
I only dropped in, to look at this building. FWIW it’s impressive. I hope the people whose public funds built it can make something positive of that.
The peculiar dialect of English in most of the comments is familiar. I take it this Lukashenko is disapproved-of by the same party that disapproves of George W. Bush. The vocabulary is nearly identical. The “facts-being-exposed” are nearly identical. Somehow a vast-but-politically-insignificant conspiracy can steal an election from the self-evident will of the obvious majority, in both countries.
As remarkable as the parallels may be, I only came to see the pictures of the building. I’m a Gearhead–not an artist or an architect. So my opinion might not be worth as much as that of a more evolved person. But the building looks impressive. I hope the people whose Library it is–keep it well. Best regards.
Holy Jedi Abraham! It’s the Magnificent Matzo Ball of Minsk come to take my people home. Beware Luke Steinwalker, light two candles to keep the Dark Side away and may The Farce be with you. Amen.
Looks like the perfect spot for a Daft Punk concert
Lukashenko, i am your father.
so.. anyone wanna talk about a library?
1. democracy and capitalism aren’t the same thing
2. neither are communism and dictatorship
3. democracy is at least as aggressive as dictatorship
4. There have been many successful and peaceful dictatorships
5. American foreign policy is violent gun totting and mainly based around oil… not the safety of american citizens, if you disagree then you are probably watching from inside america, where you can’t see it properly
6. democracy by definition, can’t be forced upon a people at gunpoint. (”Vote, or don’t vote… or I kill you” ??)
7. Just as there are no real examples of communism, neither are there any real democracies. British democracy was killed by Thatcher.. a policy perpetuated by every government since. Now more people choose not to vote, than actually bother to vote.
8. I’ve never been to Belarus, but they’ve got a great looking library.
Lukashenko - best president. He has restored our country after communists and democrats. Has constructed excellent library - is not “death star”, but brilliant of knowledge. The belarussian people are very grateful to Lukashenko.
Kazakhstan greatest country in world.
All other countries run by little girls.