Kugelbrunnen, Contemporary fountain in central Aachen, Germany
The Kugelbrunnen is an art fountain in Aachen's pedestrian zone with three mechanical spheres attached to a steel pipe. The spheres open and close in a repeating rhythm, allowing water to flow into a basin below.
The fountain was designed and built in 1977 by metal sculptor Albert Sous. It emerged during a time when public art installations were gaining importance in West German cities.
The ceramic spheres come from the Jülich Research Center and connect this work to the region's scientific past. The fountain shows how technical materials are brought into public spaces and shape everyday encounters.
The fountain is located in the pedestrian zone on Adalbertstraße near Willy-Brandt-Platz and is easy to reach on foot. A small drinking water dispenser next to the installation provides free water for visitors.
The basin is filled with numerous small ceramic spheres that were originally used as test material in a high-temperature reactor. This unexpected connection between science and public art gives the installation a hidden story.
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