A new and unusual fountain has appeared in London’s Neighbourhood Square. “The Fountain”, designed by agency NEON, is a 4.3-metre high sculptural fountain that combines something familiar with something completely fresh. It is an installation that not only adorns the square, but also makes people more willing to stop, talk, play and simply feel more at ease.
The project grows out of the tradition of European fountains – those that have marked the centres of city squares for centuries. However, the NEON Agency decided to look at this motif from a newer perspective. Instead of classic symmetry, there are subtle shifts and slight irregularity. As a result, the fountain looks different from everywhere, and the water flows down the fountain in a changing, mesmerising way. It is this movement and sound that makes the square more welcoming and ‘soft’ to look at.
The material plays a big role. The installation is made of HI-MACS, a plastic that allows precise moulding and stands up well to the weather. The colours are not accidental either: the green of the vertical elements refers to the surrounding greenery, and the turquoise of the levels evokes associations with water. The whole looks modern, but not cool – rather like an object that has grown naturally out of its surroundings.
The most interesting thing, however, is how people react to The Fountain. Adults regard it as a quiet neighbourhood for everyday encounters, a place to stop for a while. Children – on the contrary – immediately start playing with the water, approaching the cascades, splashing in the shallow pool at the base. As Mark Nixon of NEON says, they were keen to create an installation that could be both calm and energetic, depending on who uses it and how. And that’s exactly what happens.
The opening of the fountain was combined with a community activity that gave the installation additional meaning. NEON, Related Argent and Barnet Council invited residents and people working and visiting the area to take part in a portrait session led by photographer Cesare De Giglio. Each participant shared his or her wish for the future – the contemporary equivalent of throwing a coin into a fountain. The resulting exhibition became a story about the local community and its dreams, while subtly connecting people to the new installation.
“The Fountain is an example of how design can transform public space – not through monumentality, but by creating places that people want to co-create by spending time in them.” In Brent Cross Town, the fountain has become not just an object, but an excuse for people to meet, play and enjoy small daily rituals. And this is where its strength lies.
design: NEON(https://www.instagram.com/neon.uk)
source: v2com
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