The claim
The new “WirWasser” anniversary fountain in Vienna cost around 22 million euros and sparked a public debate.
Our conclusion
The costs of the fountain are documented at 1.8 to 2.1 million euros. The editions and artistic design are central points of criticism.
Costs and Controversy: Vienna's New Fountain
It's this claim: "On the last weekend of October, a fountain worth almost 22 million euros officially opened in Austria's capital Vienna."
Cost overview
The “WirWasser” anniversary fountain is not a fake and was built to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Vienna’s water. – See Google Maps .
The financial expenses for this project included planning, conducting a competition, project implementation, artistic design, construction and technical equipment. The total net costs were stated at around 1.8 million euros, a figure that was already communicated by the city administration in June . Other sources speak of a total expenditure of 2.1 million euros.
This information is in stark contrast to the false information circulating online about construction costs of almost 22 million euros.
Public and political reactions
After the opening of the fountain by Mayor Michael Ludwig and Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen on October 24, 2023, lively discussions broke out among the population and among politicians. Herbert Kickl, the chairman of the FPÖ, commented on Facebook and described the project as a “luxury fountain”. The fountain was partly mocked on social networks and the question was raised in the media as to whether it could be the “ugliest fountain in Austria”. The costs and the artistic representation are the main points of criticism.
Artistic design and cultural significance
The artistic design of the fountain is at the center of criticism. While the city of Vienna emphasizes its cultural and historical significance as a celebration of Vienna's water, critics question the aesthetic value and the necessity of the investment under the given economic circumstances. Although artistic expression is subjective and complex, criticism emphasizes the discrepancy between creative decisions and public expectations.
Economic considerations and transparency
The economic concerns cannot be overlooked. At a time when inflation is rising and many citizens are feeling economic pressure, public spending is being scrutinized particularly critically. The city government has responded to these concerns by disclosing the costs and emphasizing the project's added value to the community. Nevertheless, the extent of investment in an individual urban development project remains a point of contention.
Conclusion:
The investment in the “WirWasser” anniversary fountain in Vienna was communicated transparently and amounts to 1.8 to 2.1 million euros. Despite the critical public perception and the debate surrounding the artistic design of the fountain, the financial burden for the project is much lower than some sources initially claimed. The dispute over the building reflects the current sensitivity towards public spending in economically tense times.
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )