Interventions & Events

Optimists, Ljubljana

Water and shade – two indispensable elements of urban space in the summer.

As part of the U3 Triennale of Contemporary Art, we restored the fountain on the Metelkova Museum Platform, which had been empty for a decade and put four small sailboats in it. Visitors of the platform had the opportunity to climb on the sailboats or sit by the fountain and enjoy the cultural activities that were taking place there as part of the Triennale. Parents would take the children to the fountain to play and to cool off. Before long, it turned into a space of adventures and social interactions. With the intervention, we restored the fountain, added shade, and improved the climate of the overheated platform. The renovated fountain proved to be an effective place maker, so the following summer, the Ministry of Culture reactivated it – unfortunately only temporarily.

Museum Platform, Metelkova, Ljubljana • Supporters: City Municipality of Ljubljana, Sailing club Jadro, Ministry of Culture and Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova • Photo: Matjaž Tančič • 2013