The renowned design agency NEON has unveiled ‘The Fountain,’ a stunning new public art installation in the heart of Brent Cross Town, London. Soaring to metres high, this sculptural water feature anchors the emerging Neighbourhood Square, offering a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic European civic fountain. It’s a piece of architectural design that acts as a landmark, a source of well-being, and a delightful point of interaction, successfully marrying tradition with a contemporary language suitable for this burgeoning quarter.
NEON’s concept draws heavily on the enduring charm of city square fountains found across the continent. These structures have always served as crucial civic meeting points—simultaneously creating a landmark, a space for informal play, and an oasis of calm through the soothing auditory and visual qualities of moving water. The studio’s goal was to synthesize these age-old benefits into a modern design that offers a moment of curiosity and pause amidst the urban pulse of a new London neighbourhood.
To achieve a visually distinct yet familiar feel, the design team introduced a subtle, yet clever, gentle asymmetry in the stacked plates. This offset geometry ensures the sculpture presents a different dynamic profile from every viewpoint. Furthermore, this deliberate placement enriches both the acoustic qualities and the visual movement of the water as it cascades down, creating a truly immersive experience for residents and visitors of the new London district.
The selection of materiality was paramount to ensuring both high-quality performance and longevity. HI-MACS was chosen for its exceptional durability, colour stability, and its capability to be precisely formed into the exact geometries required for the stacked plates and vertical fins. Its long lifespan and inherent weather resistance will significantly minimise future maintenance, making it a responsible choice for a permanent water feature. The colour palette—featuring a landscape-echoing green for the vertical elements and a water-referencing turquoise for the water tables—grounds the Brent Cross Town landmark seamlessly within its public realm setting.
‘The Fountain’ is designed to encourage both quiet contemplation and light-hearted interaction. The steady sound and rhythm of the cascades offer a gentle, calming backdrop to daily life, making the Neighbourhood Square feel more inviting for simply sitting, passing through, or casual chatting. Mark Nixon of NEON notes the importance of this duality: “The Fountain offers calm moments through its sound and movement, but it also invites light-hearted interaction, especially from children.” Indeed, the shallow pool and accessible cascades bring a tangible sense of play and vital energy to the space, fulfilling the studio’s vision for a dynamic public art piece.
The unveiling was also marked by a powerful community engagement initiative—a modern echo of the tradition of making a wish at a fountain. Local residents and workers were invited to share a personal wish for the future as part of a portrait series. This initiative, fostered in collaboration with Related Argent and Barnet Council, seamlessly wove the community’s stories and aspirations into the very fabric of the artwork, establishing a strong sense of local ownership and civic pride for this beautiful design object in Brent Cross Town.