In the course of construction activities the Zimmermannplatz in the 9th district of Vienna will be refashioned. A fountain object designed by invited artists is to be erected there. To this aim, there has been a call for participation in a limited competition.

This square is characterized by a public green space directly adjacent to the busy street space. It is located between the Meynertgasse and the Zimmermanngasse and is divided by the Lazarettgasse, which shortly afterwards meets the Währinger Gürtel [beltway]. In the square’s southern area the new constructions of a research institute of the St. Anna-Kinderspital [pediatric hospital] and an underground car park are in the making while the northern part remains unchanged as an open square. From the southern access area the latter can be looked upon in its entirety.

The proposal to construct a special object designed by artists, which was formulated by different protagonists involved in the planning process, has become the limited competition’s subject. For the pedestrians’ benefit the Zimmermannplatz is to be outlined in a stronger spatial unity. The traffic concept provides for the construction of several traffic islands and cross-walks, which shall facilitate in a substantial manner to cross the square afoot in all of its areas.

In order to slow down the car traffic the roadway widths will be reduced on the one hand, and, on the other, the Lazarettgasse and the Hebragasse will be slightly deviated at the crossroads. In the northern part of the square the local road will be given up in favor of a more generous spatial solution and integrated into the redevelopment. Thus the available green space will be enlarged considerably and structured into three zones: i.e. central square, children’s playground and green rest area. Moreover, the central square in the northern part will be the site of the object designed by the artists. In addition, this object shall provide for water.

The idea for this was formulated in the course of a participation procedure, as several participants proposed to integrate the element of water into the design of the square. Water that appears on the surface would also be a historical reference to the Alserbach, which flows underground along the Lazarettgasse and Alserbachstraße and heads for the Donaukanal [Danube Canal]. It was arched over in the 19th century. Yet for the art object the use of water won’t be the sole determining factor but only one possible design aspect.

Text extract: Karl Bruckschwaiger, in: Public Art Vienna. Departures - Works - Interventions. 2004 - 2007.