Aschrottbrunnen, Memorial fountain at Town Hall Square, Kassel, Germany.
The Aschrottbrunnen is an inverted pyramid structure that extends roughly 12 meters deep into the ground, with water visible flowing downward through metal grates. The top surface appears sunken and geometrical, creating an unusual negative space in the center of the plaza.
A Jewish industrialist donated an ornate fountain to the plaza in 1908, but the Nazi regime destroyed it in 1939. In 1987, artist Horst Hoheisel created the current memorial at the same spot to honor what was lost through its absence.
The fountain is named after Jewish industrialist Sigmund Aschrott, whose original donation was a symbol of civic generosity. Visitors today can sense this history directly by standing over the metal grate and looking into the depths below.
Located on the pedestrian plaza, this fountain is easy to reach on foot and viewable from all angles around its perimeter. The best view into the depths comes from standing directly over the metal grates and looking down, preferably during daylight hours.
The water in this fountain reaches down to the natural groundwater level of the city, creating a direct link between surface and underground water systems. This physical connection between what is visible and what lies hidden below makes the site particularly meaningful.
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