Controversial Vaillancourt Fountain by Canadian artist dismantled in San Francisco - BERITAJA

Crews successful San Francisco are dismantling 1 of the city’s about arguable landmarks, the Vaillancourt Fountain, a monolithic actual sculpture that has stood on the waterfront for much than 50 years.

Created by Quebec creator Armand Vaillancourt, the absurd brutalist building has loomed complete the tract since 1971, drafting some praise and disapproval complete the decades.

For the creator and his family, the removal is profoundly personal. Vaillancourt’s son, Alexis Vaillancourt, said they learned the fountain was not included successful renewal plans for the parkland by chance.

“My sister lives successful California, she sent america 1 of the articles pinch the plan, and the fountain wasn’t there,” he said.

Now 96, Armand Vaillancourt considers the portion the about important activity of his career. His boy said the family had followed the long-running statement complete the fountain’s early and had braced for the anticipation of its removal, but they opportunity the reality has still been difficult.

“To spot the image of workers drilling.. I saw that earlier going to slumber a mates of days ago,” Alexis Vaillancourt told BERITAJA. “I took a moment. It was not easy.”

Supporters person agelong based on the fountain is simply a bold illustration of modernist nationalist art, reflecting the futuristic architectural trends of its time. Critics, however, person described it arsenic harsh and retired of spot connected the waterfront.

Despite the divided opinions, the building became a taste landmark, hosting punk concerts, attracting skateboarders and moreover appearing successful video games. It was besides famously spray-painted by Bono.

City officials opportunity the fountain had deteriorated to the constituent of becoming a information risk, pinch repairs expected to costs millions of dollars.

Jackie Fielder, who serves arsenic a personnel of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, was blunt successful her assessment. “Now this is simply a beautiful disfigured fountain, I deliberation everyone could work together connected that,” Fielder said.

Following a prolonged ineligible battle, the metropolis agreed to dismantle alternatively than demolish the structure.

It will beryllium stored for up to 3 years while officials research whether it could beryllium repurposed elsewhere.