The Brutalist and not particularly well-liked Villaincourt Fountain at Embarcadero Plaza might be getting demolished and removed, but a gang of enthusiasts, including the designer Villaincourt himself, are on a bender to preserve it.

The local events website Funcheap SF had themselves a viral hit last month with the Facebook post seen below. “Bye concrete fountain! Hello urban oasis with picnic spots, art, and waterfront views!” the post declares, getting 600 reactions and about 80 shares on their announcement that “SF’s new Embarcadero Park is on its way!” This is a reference to the proposed redesign of Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park, and the “Bye concrete fountain!” statement refers to a supposed removal of the striking and some would say appallingly ugly Vaillancourt Fountain that’s been there since 1971.


But Funcheap’s declaration may have been a little premature. There are no formal plans announced yet to remove the fountain. It's just that the architects behind the park’s proposed new design left that fountain out of their renderings, which sure makes you wonder if the fountain’s days are numbered.


And that’s sounding the alarm for fans of Vaillancourt Fountain, who are rushing to the fountain’s defense, according to the Chronicle. They’ve also started a preserve Embarcadero Plaza and Vaillancourt Fountain website to help make their case.

“The fountain is a striking example of Brutalist architecture. Created by Québécois artist Armand Vaillancourt in 1971, this 40-foot-high fountain is a testament to the transformative vision of the project,” the website says. “Initially conceived to complement the now-demolished Embarcadero Freeway, the fountain has outlived its original context and evolved into a freestanding artistic statement. This resilient monument has survived the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and multiple attempts at removal over its lifetime.”

The water on the fountain, of course, has been shut off for quite some time. And any decision to remove it would be made in public by the SF Rec and Parks Department and the SF Arts Commission.

“There is no final design for the renovation of Embarcadero Plaza that either retains or removes the fountain or the bricks,” Rec and Parks spokesperson Daniel Montes told the Chronicle. “We’re in the early stages of planning and design, working closely with the community and partners to shape the future of the plaza.”

Very interestingly, the fountain’s designer Armand Vaillancourt is still very much alive at age 95, and living in Quebec. And his family says he would come to SF to fight for the fountain’s survival.

“He has always been willing to defend the fate of the fountain,” his son Alexis Vaillancourt told the Chronicle. “This is not the first time that there has been talk about demolishing it, but it is still there after more than 50 years.”  

Related: Mayor Breed Presses Forward With Embarcadero Plaza Revamp on Eve of Election [SFist]

Image: Enoch Lai via Wikimedia Commons