Wasserstele / Water Stele

This freestanding column consists of 12 levels of stacked open and closed cylindrical modules. Water flows through the pipe segments from the top of the column to the base, which is a paved dome-shaped area on the ground.

The object is designed as a vertical counterpoint to the more horizontal structure of the nearby Stadtsparkasse building. The bands that run lengthwise along the facade are echoed in the sculpture’s convex and concave bands, which were stacked to form a vertical column. When water flows through the concave elements, it creates the illusion that the dry convex elements are slowly moving upwards.

The evaporating water also adds moisture to the air and promotes a more pleasant climate. It belongs to a series of Klimastelen / Climate Stelae that the Planungsgemeinschaft für neue Formen der Umwelt (an environmental organization) has been using since the mid-1960s to respond to the increased sealing of city squares.

Additional information: www.publicartwiki.org