Schwebender Ring, Fountain at Strausberger Platz in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany
Schwebender Ring is a fountain on Strausberger Platz in Berlin, designed in 1967 by architect Heinz Graffunder and metal artist Fritz Kühn. Eight slender steel posts rise from concrete and artificial-stone bases to carry a large copper ring above the water basin. Jets around the ring send water upward, and the ring's copper and gold-plated relief panels with geometric patterns can be examined up close.
The fountain was designed in 1967 by architect Heinz Graffunder and artist Fritz Kühn as part of East Berlin's post-war rebuilding. It represented modern thinking and a fresh start for the East German capital at that time.
The copper ring carries relief panels by Fritz Kühn, whose geometric and abstract motifs were made for East Berlin's 1967 reconstruction of Strausberger Platz. Kühn, a metalworker and sculptor, also created the surrounding water features, so the ring and its jets read as one commission rather than separate pieces.
The fountain sits close to streetcar stops and is easy to reach on foot. Water flows regularly and creates an active presence that changes throughout the day.
The water jets can spray up to 5 meters high, creating a lively show when running at full strength that draws both visitors and locals. On warm days, the plaza around the fountain becomes a gathering spot where people enjoy the water and cooler air.
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