Fontäne LANDREFORM exhibition series Skulpturenpark Berlin_Zentrum, Berlin, Germany 2008-2010 Map

 

› Seasons › Construction › Aerial photo & Zoning › Project Photos Skulpturenpark Berlin_Zentrum, formerly the "death strip" within the Berlin Wall, now consists of 62 vacant lots of downtown real estate. At the intersection of four particular lots, a mound of WWII building ruins marks the second highest peak in the park. Mimicking a monumental Chinese fountain, I set out to make a waterfall atop the ruins, which like a river will be a natural geographic divider between the properties. First, with the help of divining rods, I choose a spot to dig a well. Four meters down in a narrow shaft, after digging and cutting through dirt, rebar, and chunks of concrete, I find myself trapped in someone's former basement, impeded by a solid concrete floor. By good fortune, I discover an abandoned well on an adjacent lot earlier that week. With an abundant supply, water is now pumped to the top of the ruins, where it cascades as a waterfall into 3 interconnected pools. The water crests and flows as one stream leading back and falling into the 4 meter hole, now a depository and my stymied attempt to find water. Unbeknownst to the landowners, it would be unclear which one them owns the water as it falls on the divide between them. The water comes from the ground and returns to the ground. Special thanks to Nixe Frey. 2008 Zoning of vacant lots at Skulpturenpark Beuthstrasse, Kommandantenstrasse, Neue Grünstrasse, Seydelstrasse 1) Fontäne  2) Attempted Well  3) Abandoned well