Residents from the neighborhood Slotermeer Noordoost could submit ideas to the municipality of Amsterdam what they thought would be a nice addition to the neighborhood. A budget was available to decorate the neighborhood and that resulted in the Freedom Fountain at Plein 1940-1945.
For and by the neighborhood
To make the project truly for and of the neighborhood, all local residents were involved in the design process. A survey and a video interview allowed them to choose their favorite design.
The majority chose 3 smaller fountains instead of 1 large fountain; that became AUGA’s chalice fountains. These fountains are pre-programmed and therefore always change in color and image. With a single fountain, of course, the dynamic effect is a lot smaller.
Fountains as a symbol of freedom
The congregation also asked the neighborhood what freedom meant to them. That yielded extraordinary conversations. The fountains are an expression of the importance of freedom in which we live and to be who we want to be, to say what we want to say, according to the neighborhood. A very fitting connection to the fraught history of Plein 1940-1945.
Choosing the right fountain
Using fountains in a canal involves more than you might think. The water is often not always very clean. For this project we used our V-Flow aeration fountains. These are low in dirt, provide a voluminous fountain appearance and provide additional aeration of canal water.
By using LED RGBW lighting, we provide a sustainable and sparkling solution to put the fountains in the most beautiful light. This emphasizes the nostalgic atmosphere of downtown .