Series
Nothing Short of a Sensation
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The fountain is 32m in diameter, equipped with 350 water jets and over 400 colour-changing reflectors. Accompanied by five tunes, three popular schlager songs about Belgrade, one of Michael Jackson and one of Luciano Pavarotti. Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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“[…] Building the underground passages was meant to speed up the traffic and to make it [e.g. crossing the street] easier for the pedestrians. That idea was given up on, and the new traffic studies have shown, the city government officials state, that, with it [i.e. introducing underground passages] practically nothing was achieved […]” Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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“[…] ‘There are large squares in the world without underground passages. Those [that were given up on in the final project] were designed in such a way that nobody would use them, because they were really narrow’, the city manager claims […]” Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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“[…] ‘Serbian president evaluated today that the new fountain in Belgrade’s Slavija square is ‘one of ten most beautiful fountains in Europe’ and added that the criticism of its construction has made him laugh […]” Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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“[…] ‘That is something that is a new tourist attraction. Look at the fountain in Slavija square, which in a way has already become a tourist attraction, you see that people are taking pictures, coming, tourists are visiting’ the city manager stated […]” Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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“[…] ‘People, enjoy it. Every day, starting from today, you have a chance to enjoy this very beautiful fountain for which Belgrade has already become known, and it is yet to be known, in the region as well as across the whole of Europe’, the city mayor stated […]” Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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“[…] ‘The fountain is going to be a symbol of the city and a tourist attraction, one of the objects that differentiates big cities from towns’, the city manager said […]” Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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“[…] ‘I indeed understand that a 1000 people have 1000 opinions, but Belgrade has never had a music fountain, and much bigger cities have it, so Belgrade should also have it, and whoever does not like it does not have to listen to it’ city manager said […]” Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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“[…] Serbian president said that he is pleased with the fact that Serbia has ‘one of the ten most beautiful fountains in Europe’, and added ‘then you start to laugh when you face criticism that says – we cannot wash our feet [in the fountain] – I thought that’s what a bathtub is for’, he said […]” Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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“[…] ‘By building this fountain we are showing that we are putting Belgrade in order, and that it is becoming a better place for living’, the city manager stated […]” Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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“[…] ‘Simply put, we are joining the line of big cities and getting a major tourist attraction’, the city manager concluded […]” Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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“[…] The city manager reminded that Belgrade got the biggest music fountain in the Balkans and specified that the value of the fountain is about €1.8m […]” Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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“[…] The city manager mentioned that it is a matter of a very important public amenity, and an indispensability for a city like Belgrade to own such an object […]” Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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“[…] The city manager added that the cost of constructing the fountain came to €1.8m. He also announced that building several other, considerably smaller fountains in Belgrade has been planned, because that, as he assessed, is something that appeals to citizens […]” Belgrade, Serbia, June 2017 © Milovan Milenković
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The total investment in reconstruction came to €2.1m, with €1.8m spent on the star of the show, nearly six times more than on the initial reason for this endeavour. To put it in perspective, the cost of solving the traffic issues equals about 750 national average salaries, while the amount invested in the fountain is around 4500.
Announced as “very important” and “a brand-new tourist attraction” for Serbia and its capital, almost €2m colour-changing music fountain was put in official use on June 6th, 2017.
The reconstruction of Slavija [slɑːvi.ə] Square, the busiest central roundabout in Belgrade, frequented by over 100k people every day, was completed in 2017, with an aim to solve perpetual traffic jams, as well as to separate the traffic from pedestrians in order to improve safety, speed up the traffic flow and give the square a new look.
In spite of this junction’s indisputable significance for the city’s traffic flow, initial winning design proposal was partly changed, which meant that pedestrian crossings were repositioned and new traffic lights added, instead of introducing underground passages. The 800-square meter central area of the roundabout seems to be the main difference, where, in place of a tiny, disproportional bust with remains of WWII national hero, a mammoth fountain has been installed.
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Even though the fountain itself has no significance to the main reason for renovation, almost all media, especially the most influential and pro-government ones did their best to promote it, aiming to bring it to a level of national importance. Unison statements of government officials [quoted in captions] revolved around “the beauty” and “huge tourist potential” of this rather generic, plastic-looking misfitting construction, in order to wow the nation with a €1.8m object.
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At the same time, a few articles were published about a similar fountain, found on Alibaba online selling platform, for about €200.000, and blamed authorities for overpaying the project. Consequently, the public is divided into two main groups. There are those who simply liked and supported the project and those who think that the taxpayers’ money could have been spent better for everyone’s benefit.
The first phase of the reconstruction has just been completed, water jets and lights are on, music is playing on a loop. If this is the most important improvement, the question is – how to fully experience this colourful light show from a car, when the traffic jams are mostly over daytime?
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Nothing Short of a Sensation
Announced as “very important” and “a brand-new tourist attraction” for Serbia and its capital, almost €2m colour-changing music fountain was put in official use on June 6th, 2017.
The reconstruction of Slavija [slɑːvi.ə] Square, the busiest central roundabout in Belgrade, frequented by over 100k people every day, was completed in 2017, with an aim to solve perpetual traffic jams, as well as to separate the traffic from pedestrians in order to improve safety, speed up the traffic flow and give the square a new look.
In spite of this junction’s indisputable significance for the city’s traffic flow, initial winning design proposal was partly changed, which meant that pedestrian crossings were repositioned and new traffic lights added, instead of introducing underground passages. The 800-square meter central area of the roundabout seems to be the main difference, where, in place of a tiny, disproportional bust with remains of WWII national hero, a mammoth fountain has been installed.
Previous
Next
Even though the fountain itself has no significance to the main reason for renovation, almost all media, especially the most influential and pro-government ones did their best to promote it, aiming to bring it to a level of national importance. Unison statements of government officials [quoted in captions] revolved around “the beauty” and “huge tourist potential” of this rather generic, plastic-looking misfitting construction, in order to wow the nation with a €1.8m object.
Previous
Next
At the same time, a few articles were published about a similar fountain, found on Alibaba online selling platform, for about €200.000, and blamed authorities for overpaying the project. Consequently, the public is divided into two main groups. There are those who simply liked and supported the project and those who think that the taxpayers’ money could have been spent better for everyone’s benefit.
The first phase of the reconstruction has just been completed, water jets and lights are on, music is playing on a loop. If this is the most important improvement, the question is – how to fully experience this colourful light show from a car, when the traffic jams are mostly over daytime?
to explore related posts – continue scrolling
to navigate through posts – use arrows
