NOVA*Jungbrunnen is a site-specific installation that transforms water into a point of gathering. The 3.5-meter translucent cylindrical tower rises as a vertical axis in space, generating a gravitational pull where visitors naturally assemble, pause and engage with the simple act of drinking. Shaped by the presence of water, the work invites a social and sensorial experience that heightens perception and prompts reflection on our relationship to this essential element.

Inside the fountain, water flows throug rock crystals. As it passes through these mineral structures, the water interacts with the crystalline surfaces and exchange information — a process known to influence its molecular organization at an atomic level. These interactions belong to a long-standing field of phenomenological water research, in which minerals are understood to subtly affect the qualities of water.

When first presented at Hamburger Bahnhof during the Future Nows Festival 2017, the installation activated an overlooked architectural area: the Ruinensaal, located in the former outdoor platform of the historical train station. The old railway tracks that still traverse the ground guided the placement of the pipe system carrying water from the museum into the fountain, reconnecting the site’s past infrastructure with a new spatial function.

Like a gravitational point, visitors were drawn toward the fountain, captivated by its transparency and by the inversion phenomena emerging from the optical qualities of water. Drinking the offered water and tea encouraged people to spend time within the installation field, gradually transforming the ruins into an active environment shaped by movement, conversations and quiet observations. The Ruinensaal, previously a transitional or forgotten space, became a place of orientation, encounter and renewed attention.

NOVA*Jungbrunnen operates through presence and participation: as people gather around the fountain, each visitor contributes to the spatial and social configuration of the work. The installation demonstrates how water can activate a sense of belonging and collective presence, both physically and perceptually.

By engaging body, space and environment, NOVA*Jungbrunnen redefines the dynamics of the site, opening a shared field of experience shaped by attention, perception and the flow of water.