Never Saw a Purple Cow

But, an octopus library is a horse of a different color:

A controversy has erupted in the Czech Republic over the design of a new national library building in Prague.

The design, by the Czech-born architect Jan Kaplicky, seems to be loved and loathed in equal measure. Czechs have nicknamed it "the Octopus".

Mr Kaplicky has come up with what can best be described as a nine-storey green and purple blob.

Now even President Vaclav Klaus has joined the increasingly bitter debate. He is among the opponents.

Letna Plain, a dusty and windswept strip of land just a stone's throw away from Prague Castle, is to be the home of the new Czech national library in a few years' time.

The library will be purpose-built to house the country's priceless collection of 10 million books and manuscripts.