The National Library of Kosovo "Pjetër Bogdani" opened in 1982 and was designed by the Croatian architect Andrija Mutnjaković. The building belongs to the style of New Regionalism, or Balkan Brutalism, which combines the modernism of reinforced concrete with deeply historical local motifs.
In October 2026 we traveled with a small group of enthusiasts around Kosovo. The country is known for its brutalist buildings and the heavy atmosphere around them. This led us to The National Library of Kosovo "Pjetër Bogdani", one of the most famous examples of Balkan brutalism. We walked around the building from almost every side, took photos, and discussed it. The building is frankly ugly, or at least that's how it seems to me, but if you look closely, you may find some charm. There was even an idea to declare the library the ugliest building in the world.
The National Library of Kosovo "Pjetër Bogdani" opened in 1982 and was designed by the Croatian architect Andrija Mutnjaković. The building belongs to the style of New Regionalism, or Balkan Brutalism, which combines the modernism of reinforced concrete with deeply historical local motifs.
In my opinion, the confusion comes from the complicated symbolism the architect tried to weave into the architecture.
Because the library was built during the Yugoslav communist regime in a period of strong ethnic tension, its architecture has given rise to highly contested interpretations over the years. The architect conceived the combination of cubes and domes as a unifying design that blends Ottoman (Islamic) and Byzantine (Orthodox Christian) forms that define Kosovo's historical landscape.
Many local Kosovo Albanians have historically interpreted the architecture differently. Some see the white domes as an imitation of the plis (a traditional Albanian woolen cap), and the surrounding iron lattice as a symbol of confinement or shackles imposed by the regime.
The library's roof is defined by 99 white translucent acrylic domes of different sizes. Mutnjaković designed them to resemble brains, a symbol of knowledge, while also referencing the regional Byzantine and Ottoman architectural traditions. The domes act as skylights and flood the multi-story reading rooms below with natural light.
The metal lattice "veil" is a massive concrete structure, completely enveloped in a heavy, cast aluminum mesh made of tens of thousands of interlaced hexagons. Functionally, this outer frame protects the library from strong sunlight. Conceptually, it is intended as a reference to the traditional Kosovar filigree silver craftsmanship.
I chose to present the collection in black and white because of the nature of the subject. Although our trip took place in October, the most colorful month of the year, bright and cheerful colors didn't suit this building; if anything, they made me feel even sadder.
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