Fountain Utoquai, Zürich. Competition entry.
An elephant is an exotic presence 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 draws on our tendency to perceive the exotic as attractive and mysterious. The elephant distinguishes itself from all other communal fountains as 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 afar the shiny yellow stands out in high contrast to the gray of asphalt and green of the trees. With it’s imposing presence 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 him. The basin is only 10cm deep and can be waded through. 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 upward either 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