Water has returned to Freedom Square: the largest fountain in Slovakia is flowing once again

Water has returned to the landmark of Freedom Square after an absence of sixteen years. The fountain has received a comprehensive restoration. After four decades, the lime blossom has been cleansed, new nozzles have been installed, barriers have been removed from the original cascade pools and the engine room has been modernised. Following the renovation, the fountain is considerably more efficient in operation, and has become one of the largest fountains in Slovakia which you can safely access in order to cool down. A part of the square has also been modified. Trees have been planted, raised beds have been improved, automatic irrigation, furnishings, lighting and a unique terrazzo have been installed to replace the original cracked granite tiles. The first stage of the extensive renovation was carried out by the city together with the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava (MIB) and the General Investor of Bratislava (GIB). The current form of the square was selected from an architectural competition held in 2017, won by architects from the 2021 and LABAK studios.

The renovation of Freedom Square is one of the biggest renovations of public space in Bratislava. After sixteen long years, water has returned to this iconic fountain, which remains the highlight.

"I am delighted that today, together with the people of Bratislava, we have put the comprehensively restored fountain back into operation. It is more economical and, most importantly, a more accessible place, where children can play with the water and enjoy it. It also makes the local microclimate more pleasant during hot summer days. The square has also undergone a makeover as part of the first phase of revitalisation and is now much better suited for large public gatherings, an aspect not considered in the past when designing this public space," says Mayor Vallo. _ "I am happy that we are bringing another iconic building in our city back to life as part of the Living Places programme. The fountain takes the shape of an opening lime blossom, symbolising friendship and peace between nations: a message that is even more relevant these days,"_ adds Ján Mazúr, Head of the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava.

The renovation started in November 2021 and in less than 19 months the fountain with the lime blossom and the underground engine room, as well as the square areas, have undergone a comprehensive repair. As part of the first phase of the renovation, the lighting was upgraded, the wiring replaced and greenery was added to the square. The second phase of the renovation will resume this autumn, with more greenery being planted, a playground for the youngest children being built and the last paved areas of the square being repaired. The project was co-financed by government grants.

People can now access the fountain

Over the course of last summer, the fountain pools were modified, the concrete structure, manholes, gutters and hydroinsulation were rebuilt. As part of the restoration, the perimeter wall of the pools was removed, making the fountain more accessible to people. New jets were added to the original ones in the fountain pools. The fountain can now operate in three different modes - dry, standard and cascade.

1. Dry mode: fountain off/out of operation - at night and out of season
2. Wet mode: the most common mode during operation - with dry segment edges and low water level (up to 7 cm) 3. Cascade mode: a festive mode referring to the original cascading fountain concept, with the segments filled to the brim and water cascading from higher to lower segments

The fountain has a diameter of 45 metres, the central sculpture weighs 12 tonnes and is made of stainless steel. Prior to renovation, the fountain was in a state of disrepair, the pumps were not functioning and the wiring and waterproofing of the pools were damaged. The unsuitable carbon steel structures inside the fountain were removed and replaced with ones made of stainless steel.

"We have opted for a sensitive renovation respecting the original character of the square. The space is now more suited to the public events that historically took place here. We have adapted the fountain so that visitors can enter it and cool off," explains Peter Lényi, architect at 2021 studio.

In the summer of 2022, the underground technical room, where the original, albeit for many years non-functional, technological equipment for powering the water in the fountain is located, was completely renovated. Some of the original pumps have been preserved and will remain underground for generations to come. The fountain's plumbing has also been repaired in its entirety.

The newly renovated fountain is now powered by modern technology to be incomparably more cost- efficient and environmentally friendly. While in the past up to 2,000 cubic metres of water circulated in the fountain, after the renovation this quantity will be ten times less.

The blossom has regained its original lustre after 40 years

The lime blossom was professionally cleaned during the renovation after forty years using technology from Kärcher, which took care of the cleaning works free of charge.

In 2022 experts from the Conservation Office took samples from the fountain and, based on the analysis, recommended chemical cleaning as the most appropriate method that would not damage the work of art and return it to its original visual appearance. The blossom has been polluted over the years, mainly by the weather, as the stainless-steel sheet reacted to sunlight or acid rain.

The artwork is in the shape of an opening lime blossom, which symbolises friendship and peace between nations. The work was created between 1979 and 1980. The design of Freedom Square, then Gottwald Square, was created by a team of sculptors Juraj Hovorka, Karol Lacko and Tibor Bártfay, and architects Virgil Droppa and Juraj Hlavica.

"Part of the preparation work was also communication with the heirs to the copyright of the fountain. They welcomed the reconstruction, and we share the opinion that the fountain should serve the people again," says Natália Puschmannová from the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava, who took part in coordinating the reconstruction.

Recycled terrazzo also decorates the square

A unique terrazzo was poured into the immediate surroundings of the fountain, which the architects recycled from the original granite and basalt tiles.

"We proposed to remove the original granite tiles and basalt cladding and crush them into smaller pieces, which are noticeably present in the texture of the new cast paving. The regrinding has created an attractive surface that follows the original material. By doing this, we saved the city approximately 500 tonnes of material that would otherwise have ended up in landfill and new material would have had to be excavated," explains architect Ondrej Marko from 2021 studio and adds that that the original beam-like shapes of chipped paving typical for this square have been preserved.

New trees, irrigation and flower beds

The greenery has been adapted, new trees have been planted, raised beds have been modified, lighting has been replaced and new furnishings have been added.

As part of the reconstruction, elements were reorganised to create a more coherent gathering area. This function will return to the square, since after 1989 Freedom Square has been used for occasional concerts, social events or demonstrations. Now, a large number of people will be able to gather here without restricting individual or public transport in the city centre (which used to be the case, especially during large demonstrations organised in SNP Square). Another priority was to eliminate barriers in the space. For example, wheelchair access has been created in the second row of the beds, where it is easier for parents with strollers or people with disabilities to get to the area.

The raised areas in the first and second rows have been turned into green islands with regularly mown areas and automatic irrigation. Seventeen sakura and gledichi trees have been planted in the square, as well as seven mature pine trees, which are already providing natural shade. During the reconstruction, the City Hall's Greenery Department, in association with landscape architects from the LABAK studio, also monitored the condition of the trees, which led to the replacement and addition of new ones. Necessary health and safety pruning of the trees was also performed.

Planting of new trees and other greenery will continue in the coming years. It is planned to plant trees systematically, taking into account their species and age, which will result in a better combination of greenery in the area. More trees will provide shade, which will improve the local microclimate, especially in summer.

Part of the Living Places programme

The reconstruction of the fountain and its surroundings was part of the projects under the Living Places programme, which aims to revitalise long-neglected public spaces in Bratislava under the auspices of the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava.

Freedom Square 1980 – 2023

1980 The Družba fountain was built between 1979 and 1980. During socialism, Freedom Square was called Gottwald Square in honour of the first Czech-Slovak communist president, Klement Gottwald, who had a monument with his companions in one of the corners of the square. The statue was removed between 1992 and 1994.

1989 The square was renamed Freedom Square after 1989 and was used for occasional concerts, social events or demonstrations.

2007 Since 2007 the fountain has been drained due to its poor technical condition - the pumps, wiring and waterproofing of the pools were dysfunctional.

2017 The architectural competition for the entire Freedom Square, which was covered by the Chief Architect's Office, was held in 2017. Out of 14 studios, the best solution was proposed by architects from studios 2021 and LABAK, who also specialise in assignments for public investors in the public space. The architects opted for a sensitive reconstruction that respects the original character of the square.

2021 The city, together with the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava and the General Investor of Bratislava (GIB), handed over the fountain and the square to the construction company FERRMONT a.s., which at the end of November 2021 began the repair of the largest fountain in Bratislava, which had been underway for less than two years.

2023 In June 2023, the first stage of the reconstruction of the fountain and part of the square was completed. This was after 16 years during which the largest fountain in Slovakia was kept drained.

Spring 2023 – 2024 In the autumn of this year, the second phase of the reconstruction will begin, which will continue with the planting of further greenery and trees, installation of a playground for the youngest children and repair of the last paved areas in the square.