Ruth Asawa's Fountain, San Francisco

Located outside the Grand Hyatt San Francisco stands the San Francisco Fountain, a remarkable bronze sculpture and fountain created by the renowned American modernist sculptor Ruth Asawa. Ruth Asawa conceived the fountain as a heartfelt homage to the vibrant city of San Francisco, its construction culminating in 1972. Comprising 41 bronzed plaques, the fountain masterfully portrays the iconic landmarks that define San Francisco while vividly illustrating the city's captivating and storied history.

This cylindrical sculpture serves as the outer wall of the fountain basin and features bas-relief scenes of San Francisco in a whimsically interconnected manner. Standing approximately 90 inches (2.3 meters) tall and boasting a diameter of 193 inches (4.9 meters), the fountain is set into a base of brick stairs. The architectural work was masterminded by Albert Lanier.

In September 1992, the Smithsonian Institution's Save Outdoor Sculpture! program surveyed and labeled the fountain as needing treatment. Subsequently, in May 2016, Apple Inc. completed the construction of a new flagship store on the northwest corner of Post and Stockton Streets. As part of the project, the public space between the new store and a hotel on the southwest corner of Sutter and Stockton Streets underwent renovations.

The revamped public open space now features wooden tables, chairs, planters with trees, a "living wall," and a new multi-color "LOVE" sculpture, all surrounding the iconic Ruth Asawa's San Francisco Fountain. The project also included some restoration and preservation work on the fountain, ensuring its continued beauty and cultural significance for all to admire.