How a city splashed out on staying cool: Zürich’s best fountains
Summer is the perfect season to explore the Swiss city’s ubiquitous fountains. Here are five of our favourites.
You’re never far from a drinking fountain in Zürich but the infrastructure has taken generations of investment. There are more than 1,200 in the Swiss city, which means that there are almost 266 for every 100,000 residents. (Basel has 143 per 100,000.) Ranging from abstract installations to slick 21st-century models, their designs are diligently documented by the city’s authorities in a series of district-by-district fountain guides.
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, Zürich’s fountains play a vital role in the urban fabric, especially in the warmer months. Whether a place to cool off between daytime errands, perch while enjoying an evening drink with friends or cycle through on the way home after a long day of work (as residents often do with the Europuddle on Gustav-Gull-Platz), they are landmarks for residents to interact with.
A tour of Zürich’s fountains on a summer day will offer a wellspring of inspiration to urban planners who want to make a mark on their own cities as temperatures rise. Here, we present some of Zürich’s finest fountains. Enjoy.
Further reading:
Monocle’s complete city guide to Zürich