The Družba fountain with its central Linden Blossom sculpture is the focal point of Freedom Square. This prominent space in today's extended city centre has a long history. Archaeological research confirms the existence of a Celtic settlement in the area, while later as part of Bratislava’s eastern suburbs it featured vineyards, gardens, and the prestigious Episcopal Summer Palace (now the seat of the Slovak Government) in the square’s upper section. The square took on its current shape and size in the early 1960s, following long periods during which it served as a military training ground, assembly point, and amusement park venue. The 1960s redesign included construction around the square’s perimeter of the Post Office Palace as well as the Pavilion of Theoretical Institutes and Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Slovak University of Technology. Due to its sloping terrain, the space was remodelled into reinforced terraced tiers. A large parking area was created in the lower zone of the square, while the upper part was reimagined as a green relaxation space with benches and a simple fountain. 

This small fountain drew attention to the importance of a water feature within the extensive square, which as well as being nicknamed Firšnál (from Fürstenallee in German, meaning Prince's Avenue) was also pointedly known as Sahara. A fountain was therefore an integral artistic and functional element when preparations were made in the early 1970s to stage a competition for a comprehensive redesign of the square. In keeping with the contemporary ideology, the square was to be dominated by a monument to the former communist president Klement Gottwald, but due to the size and importance of the space, the competition was conceived more broadly – as an artistic, architectural, and urban planning project that would emphasise recreation and leisure. In 1974, the competition was won by a four-member team comprising the sculptors K. Lacko and T. Bártfay, and the architects V. Droppa and J. Hlavica. From this early stage, the design incorporated core compositional features of radials and concentric circles, at the centre of which would be a circular fountain with a centrepiece sculpture. The Gottwald monument was to be situated in the upper area of the square on the main axis with the historic building of the Slovak Government Office. From the outset, the sculptor K. Lacko explored a theme of bundles of linden flowers or linden branches, and variations on this motif can be found in several of his works – the team’s competition design featured a bundle surrounded by a ring with a figural relief pattern. 

During the following years, the project for the square continued to develop. The Gottwald sculpture was enlarged and sited offset from the main axis of the Slovak Government Office to avoid obscuring the façade of the historic building. In the implementation design, the architects enlarged the fountain basin and, instead of concentric circles, divided it into cascading segments from which water flowed across stone steps. In its ultimate form, the body of the fountain was created without the relief ring, and took on the simpler, abstract shape of linden blossom. The monumental central sculpture thereby dominates the square, a status enhanced through striking use of sheet steel polished to a velvety sheen, a material produced by Artistic Crafts Bratislava. Water sprayed high into the air and out to the sides from nozzles at the centre of the flower, the water droplets creating a misty ambiance in the square. In the implementation project, steel columns topped with perforated balls were added in the cascading segments, spraying thin streams of water in all directions. The floor of the fountain was covered with square tiles of black basalt, the dark material contrasting with the light travertine slabs that lined the fountain’s wide perimeter wall. The low height of the wall allowed for comfortable seating, or even for climbing into the basin, although this was not permitted at the time. The area around the fountain was paved with black basalt setts and light travertine strips following the proposed radial-circular composition of the square. 

The fountain functioned until 2007, although insufficient maintenance and poor condition of its technical equipment resulted in only partial operation during the later years. Following removal of the Gottwald monument and renaming of the square to Freedom Square in the early 1990s, the fountain remained the dominant feature of an area but has lost much of its appeal due to its state of neglect. After the fountain was turned off, several activities in support of its revival were launched by local authorities, professional institutions, and civic initiatives. Among the most important were initiatives by the Public Plinth association, including a presentation and public discussion at the nearby Krokus Gallery, and several interventions under the title Point 0 enacted directly on Freedom Square by renowned artists from various countries. 

A critical situation, during which proposals were made to demolish the fountain and remodel (or even construct upon) the square, was resolved when City Hall announced an architectural and urban competition. It was won in 2017 by the collaborating studios LABAK and 2021 Architekti, and the core of the design, including repair and revitalisation of the fountain, was completed in 2023. The authors retained the original layout of the fountain basin and its cascading arrangement, but removed the surrounding wall and replaced the basalt and travertine inner paving with a different type of stone. Another modification was the creation of steps and the addition of a sloping metal ring with a handrail around the perimeter of the central metal sculpture. These changes were made for user safety, as under the new concept the fountain basin was to be made accessible to the general public – especially to children – both during the summer when filled with water, and out of season when disconnected. The fountain in its new form was an immediate success following the opening on 24 June 2023, and it attracted large numbers of visitors throughout the summer. It can operate in three separate water modes, and other positive aspects of the project are lower water consumption due to its modern technology, and recycling of the original stone from the basin to create terrazzo paving around the fountain. Conversely, creation of a “safety rail” at the base of the central sculpture is questionable. The metal disrupts the original clean lines and velvety surface of the Linden Blossom. It could be considered a practical compromise until a less invasive solution is found. Another future issue is professional maintenance of the metal sculpture's surface to ensure that it retains the desired appearance and durability. Currently, the fountain has been in operation for just one summer season, with the next phase of the square's renovation now underway. Only once the project is complete will there be an opportunity for comprehensive evaluation and analysis. 

Note: Some sources cite sculptor Juraj Hovorka as main designer of the fountain. Based on contemporary documentation, source materials, information from the authors or their heirs, and art historical research, it has been established that J. Hovorka was invited to collaborate later, during the implementation phase of the fountain. The central sculpture was designed by the sculptor K. Lacko, and the architectural concept for the fountain was created by V. Droppa Sr. and J. Hlavica. 

ZD

Research status as of 15 December 2023.