Architecture and design studio NEON has unveiled a distinctive 4.3-meter-tall sculptural water fountain in London's Brent Cross Town development, creating a new focal point for the area's Neighborhood Square. The installation, simply called "The Fountain," combines contemporary design with traditional European fountain elements to serve as both a landmark and a community gathering space.

The design draws inspiration from the long-standing tradition of fountains found throughout European city squares, where these civic structures have historically served multiple purposes as landmarks, recreational spaces, and sources of tranquility through the soothing sounds and movement of water. NEON has reinterpreted these classic qualities using modern design language, with the goal of creating moments of pause, curiosity, and well-being within this emerging neighborhood district.

The fountain's most striking feature is its asymmetrical design, achieved through a series of subtly offset stacked plates arranged in a layered formation. This gentle asymmetry ensures that the sculpture appears different from every viewing angle, creating varied water cascades that enhance both the acoustic properties and visual appeal of the falling water. The dynamic design allows visitors to experience something new each time they approach the installation from different directions.

Material selection for the project prioritized both performance and longevity, leading the team to choose HI-MACS for its exceptional durability, color stability, and ability to form the precise geometries required for the stacked plates and fins. This material choice ensures weather resistance and minimizes future maintenance requirements. The color palette was carefully considered, with bright green chosen for the vertical elements to echo the surrounding landscape, while turquoise was selected for the water tables to reference colors traditionally associated with water.

The fountain actively encourages public interaction and serves multiple community functions. The steady sound and movement of water provide a calming backdrop for daily life, making the square more inviting for residents and visitors who wish to sit, chat, or simply pass through the area. Children are particularly drawn to engage directly with the water cascades and the shallow pool at the base, bringing playful energy and liveliness to the public 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," explained 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 featured a significant community engagement initiative that strengthened local connections to the artwork. Working in collaboration 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 personal wishes for the future, creating a modern interpretation of the traditional practice of making wishes at fountains. These wishes were then displayed in an accompanying exhibition, fostering a strong sense of local ownership and embedding community stories within the public artwork.

The fountain now serves as the anchor point for the new Neighborhood Square in London, with its distinctive layered geometry and varied water cascades creating dynamic sound and movement across the surface. The installation represents NEON's successful attempt to design a fountain that feels both familiar and visually distinct, contributing to the character and community spirit of Brent Cross Town's developing urban landscape.