Fontaine, Reflecting pool at La Défense, France
Fontaine is an artistic installation in the La Défense business district featuring a vitreous enamel surface across which water continuously flows. The smooth material creates shifting reflective patterns as the water moves across it.
Construction of the Fontaine, conceived by Israeli artist Yaacov Agam, began in 1975 and it was inaugurated in 1977. It quickly became a gathering and performance spot on the La Défense esplanade, where water shows were staged to music by composers such as Ravel. In 1985 a control box for the jets was left openly accessible on the esplanade so that passers-by could animate the work themselves.
The fountain creates a moment of pause within the office towers, using water as a counterpoint to the surrounding concrete and glass. People stop here to watch the reflections and flowing water amid their daily routines.
The basin straddles the esplanade between Courbevoie and Puteaux, on the line of the historical axis, so it is crossed on foot when walking through the district. The 66 water jets are electronically controlled and can reach 15 m; the basin drains at one end through a spillway that forms a cascade.
The work spans across the boundary between two municipalities, physically connecting Courbevoie and Puteaux. This territorial aspect makes it a rare focal point where administrative divisions become less relevant.
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