Concept & Inspiration
The work draws on the tradition of fountains found throughout European city squares — civic structures that act simultaneously as landmarks, places of 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 wellbeing within this emerging neighbourhood.
Design & Materiality
NEON set out to design a fountain that felt recognisable yet visually distinct. Through studying historic precedents, the team identified two recurring motifs: stacked, tapering plates that guide water downward and radial corbels supporting their edges. During the early design process, it was discovered that a gentle shift of the plates in plan introduced a calm asymmetry, allowing the sculpture to appear different from every angle. These overlaps also created varied cascades, enriching both the sound and movement of the falling water.
Material selection was driven by precision, performance and longevity. HI-MACS was chosen for its durability, colour stability and ability to form the exact geometries required for the stacked plates and fins. Its long lifespan and weather resistance minimise future maintenance, while its repairability and recyclability support a more sustainable lifecycle.
Green was chosen for the vertical elements to echo the surrounding landscape, while a turquoise was chosen for the water tables in reference to the colours often associated with water.
Achieving consistent flows across varying dish sizes required a close collaboration with the specialist water feature consultants. Water exits around the full circumference of several tiers and is delivered through a baffle system that calms the flow before reaching each plate — maintaining the impression of a smooth, continuous descent from the top to the bottom.
Experience & Public Realm
The Fountain encourages curiosity and a wide range of informal interactions. As people move through the square, the offset tiers reveal different patterns of falling water, prompting closer viewing. Children often engage directly with the cascades and the shallow pool at the base, bringing a sense of play and energy to the space. For others, the steady sound and movement offer a gentle backdrop to daily life, making the square feel more comfortable for sitting, talking or simply passing through.
Quote from NEON
“We were interested in creating a piece that could shift between being contemplative and playful, depending on how people choose to engage with it. 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.” - Mark Nixon, NEON
Community Engagement & Process
Community engagement played a central role in the project’s launch. Working with photographer Cesare De Giglio – who has been commissioned by Ralph & Russo and Shakespeare’s Globe -, NEON, Related Argent and Barnet Council invited residents, workers and visitors to participate in a portrait series. Participants were asked to share a personal wish for the future — a contemporary echo of the tradition of making a wish at a fountain — which was displayed alongside their portrait in an exhibition at the Visitor Pavilion. The initiative fostered a strong sense of local ownership and created a visible connection between the artwork and the people who use the square, embedding their stories within the public realm.
Team:
Client: Brent Cross Town, a partnership between Related Argent and Barnet Council
Artists / Designers: NEON (Mark Nixon & Viliina Koivisto)
Structural Engineers: Structure Workshop
Fabrication: The White Wall Company
Specialist consultants: Fountains Direct
Photography: John Sturrock / Cesare De Giglio
