Saint Florian

Saint Florian is a stainless steel sculpture at Bern's fire department that depicts the patron saint of firefighters through geometric abstract forms. The work stands as a public monument visible from Murtenstrasse near the building's southern entrance.

The sculpture was commissioned and installed in 2016, funded by a building insurance organization in Bern to honor firefighting services. The project emerged from a desire to recognize the contributions of these essential public workers.

The work honors the patron saint of firefighters through contemporary artistic language, showing how traditional religious symbols can speak in modern forms. Visitors can see how faith and community service come together in this public space.

The sculpture is located near the southern entrance of the fire department building and is accessible year-round from outside. The Murtenstrasse location is straightforward to reach and offers good views from multiple angles.

The stainless steel surface shifts in appearance with changing light and weather, making the sculpture look completely different depending on the time of day or cloud cover. Many visitors overlook this transformation, discovering it only on multiple visits.