Fire fountain (Berlin-Kreuzberg)
| Fire fountain | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| place | Berlin-Kreuzberg |
| country |
 Germany
|
| use | Fountain |
| architect |
Ludwig Hoffmann (1st well) Kurt Mühlenhaupt |
| Technical specifications | |
| height | approx. 2.5 m |
| diameter | 10 m |
| Floors | 1 |
| Building material | Granite, bronze |
| Coordinates | |
| location | Coordinates: 52 ° 30 ′ 7.3 " N , 13 ° 25 ′ 27.5" E 52 ° 30 ′ 7.3 " N , 13 ° 25 ′ 27.5" E |
The fire brigade fountain on Mariannenplatz in Berlin-Kreuzberg consists of a shallow water basin and a group of sculptures by Kurt Mühlenhaupt (1921–2006), with which the work of the fire brigade is presented in a humorous way. It is the successor to an earlier fire brigade well with a serious motive at this point.
First fire fountain and a subsequent relief
The first fire fighting well was unveiled on November 17, 1902. The memorial was dedicated to the often dangerous service of the fire fighters and the victims they had to make. The long-time Berlin city planner Ludwig Hoffmann (1852–1932) designed the facility. It consisted of a four-meter-high central part of sarcophagus , side flanked by two pylons made of marble . Reliefs on the sarcophagus showed dramatic scenes from the working life of the fire fighters, the sculptor was August Vogel (1859–1932). The well water flowed from two lion heads. In 1958, the well , which was badly damaged in World War II, was torn down. Instead, a relief with stylized flames in memory of the dead of the Berlin fire brigade was created in 1960, very close by on Waldemarstrasse .
Second (and today's) fire fountain
competition
In 1978, extensive renovation and improvement work began on Mariannenplatz. In this context, the Berlin-Kreuzberg civil engineering department announced a design competition for a fountain in the southern area of the square in June of the same year. Seven artists took part in the competition, whose designs were publicly exhibited in the Bethanien artist and event center . The majority of the visitors decided in favor of Mühlenhaupt's suggestion, as did the ten-member expert jury. Construction of the fountain began in March 1980 and the system was put into operation on October 24, 1981. The cost was 697,000 DM .
Description and usage
On the semicircular area between Waldemarstrasse, which crosses the square, and the southern development of the square, lies the octagonal fountain basin made of pink Swedish granite , about 10 meters long. Three figures of firefighters stand on flat plinths in the water, they are slightly larger than life and made of bronze . The commander is positioned at the hydrant with a commanding gesture , two firefighters stand opposite each other and hold the bronze hoses, each of them directing a jet of water into the center of the basin. In keeping with the artist's intention, the figures and the scene as a whole appear somewhat caricatured , and the actors' oversized noses also contribute to this. The fire fountain was the painter Mühlenhaupt's first work with large-format plastic elements. A sign on the outside wall of the pool indicated the artist of the fountain. After the sign disappeared at the beginning of the 21st century, the SPD district councilor Sevim Aydin applied for a new sign to be installed there.
Together with other organizations around this fountain, the district office holds several festivals every year (including fountain festival, Myfest, summer festival, Christmas market). In a consultation draft from 2009 it is stated that “the village character of the Brunnenplatz should be preserved and (continue to) be used for public events”.
Mühlenhaupt about his work
In his memoirs, Kurt Mühlenhaupt wrote about the fountain:
“(...) A small pond was to be created in the middle of the square, from which two firefighters sprayed each other on the left and right. A bit of a joke couldn't hurt. In addition, it should adapt to the old houses. And then I also thought of the children, they need experiences. A firefighter has to smell where it's burning beforehand, I thought. For that he needs a big nose (...) I tinkered and tinkered with for a whole year. I got materials from museums and created firefighters in fancy uniforms like they looked about a hundred years ago. After all, the houses all around came from that time. (...) For a long time it was clear to me that the children in this corner would get a fire brigade well. (...) I can see that the children have accepted him, because the dark bronze is sparkling clean from hanging around on arms and noses and shimmers golden in the sun. "
See also
Web links
- Page of the urban development Berlin over the fire brigade well
- The fire fountain in the Berlin district lexicon, Edition Luisenstadt
Individual evidence
- ↑ Thomas Frey: Note on the fountain at www.berliner-woche.de, January 17, 2017; accessed on March 20, 2019.
- ↑ Colorful Kreuzberg meets Feuerwehrbrunnenfest , May 20, 2006, accessed on March 20, 2019.
- ^ Politics with us , Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg; accessed on March 20, 2019.
- ↑ Kurt Mühlenhaupt: From my life.