NEON Unveils Sculptural Water fountain in Brent Cross Town
NEON unveils The Fountain, a 4.3-meter-high sculptural water feature installed in Brent Cross Town’s Neighborhood Square, London. The work draws on the enduring tradition of fountains found throughout European city squares, civic structures that act simultaneously as landmarks, spaces for play, and sources of calm through the sound and movement of water. NEON reinterprets these qualities in a contemporary language, aiming to create a moment of pause, curiosity, and well-being within this emerging district.
NEON set out to design a fountain that felt familiar yet visually distinct. The team introduced a gentle asymmetry by subtly offsetting the stacked plates in plan. This allows the sculpture to appear different from every viewpoint, creating varied cascades that enrich both the acoustic qualities and the visual movement of the falling water. Material selection for the installation was driven by performance and longevity. HI-MACS was chosen for its durability, color stability, and ability to form the exact geometries required for the stacked plates and fins. Its long lifespan and weather resistance minimize future maintenance. The chosen palette, green for the vertical elements, echoing the surrounding landscape, and turquoise for the water tables, referencing the colors often associated with water, grounds the sculpture in its setting.
all images by John Sturrock unless stated otherwise
Public Fountain Invites Play, Calm, and Community Connection
The Fountain encourages curiosity and a wide range of informal interactions. For residents and visitors, the steady sound and movement offer a gentle backdrop to daily life, making the square feel more comfortable for sitting, chatting, or simply passing through. Crucially, children often engage directly with the cascades and the shallow pool at the base, bringing a sense of play and energy to the space. ‘We were interested in creating a piece that could shift between being contemplative and playful, depending on how people choose to engage with it,’ says Mark Nixon, founding member of NEON Studio. ‘The Fountain offers calm moments through its sound and movement, but it also invites light-hearted interaction, especially from children. That duality felt important for a public space like this.’
The project’s launch was marked by a powerful community engagement initiative. Working with photographer Cesare De Giglio, NEON, Related Argent, and Barnet Council invited local residents, workers, and visitors to participate in a portrait series. Participants were asked to share a personal wish for the future, a modern echo of the tradition of making a wish at a fountain, which was then displayed in an exhibition. This initiative fostered a strong sense of local ownership, embedding the community’s stories within the public artwork.
NEON unveils a 4.3-meter sculptural fountain in Brent Cross Town
stacked plates form the fountain’s distinctive layered geometry
varied cascades create dynamic sound and movement across the surface
The Fountain anchors the new Neighborhood Square in London
green vertical fins echo the surrounding landscape of the square
gentle asymmetry ensures the sculpture shifts from every viewpoint
The Fountain creates a moment of calm within the emerging district
turquoise water tables evoke the colors traditionally linked to water
visitors experience a soft acoustic backdrop from the falling water
project info:
name: The Fountain
designer: NEON | @neon.uk
location: London, UK
lead designers: Mark Nixon & Viliina Koivisto
client: Brent Cross Town, a partnership between Related Argent and Barnet Council
structural engineers: Structure Workshop
fabrication: The White Wall Company
specialist consultants: Fountains Direct
photographers: John Sturrock | @johnnysturrock, Cesare De Giglio | @cesare_dg
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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