Fountain Utoquai, Zürich. Competition entry.
An elephant is an exotic in Zürich. Especially when it's yellow! That of all things a yellow elephant should stay at the Hungerplatz even without relation to local fauna, is due to his symbolism. It counts on the circumstance that we feel the exotic as attractive and mysterious. The elephant clearly separates itself from all other communal fountains a s the special 'Elephant of Zürich', an icon and unrivaled jubilee fountain. The giant elephant puts a strong accent at the Brunnenplatz and turns it into a meeting-spot where passersby of the urban swarm can find themselves again or meet. Visible also from distance the shiny yellow stands out in high contrast to the gray of asphalt and green of the trees. In it's imposing figure the elephant stands like a figurehead at the tip of Hungerinsel. Inviting and welcoming he raises the trunk which lets splash a vivid water fountain in a high arc into the water basin in front of the elephant. The basin is only 10cm deep and can be waded. A steel rim that separates the island from the pavement forms a narrow groove around the basin to let the water drain. Right beside the elephant's front foot a drinking fountain shoots out of the floor into the sky or in open mouth of people gently bending over and other thirsty minds.
Client: Water Industries of the City of Zürich __ competition 2017
New construction__ Program: 150 years jubilee fountain of public water supply