A Contemporary Civic Fountain Blending Calm, Play, and Community Identity in a Fast-Growing London Neighbourhood

Design agency NEON has revealed The Fountain, a 4.3-metre sculptural water feature newly installed at Neighbourhood Square in Brent Cross Town, London. The piece reimagines the cultural role of European civic fountains—sites of gathering, symbolism, and play—through a contemporary lens suited to a rapidly developing district.

The Fountain
Photo credit: John Sturrock

The Fountain
Photo credit: John Sturrock

The Fountain
Photo credit: John Sturrock

The team drew inspiration from historic city-square fountains that serve as landmarks and communal pause points. NEON sought to translate these qualities into a work that encourages reflection while inviting public interaction. The fountain’s form is defined by subtly offset stacked plates, creating a gentle asymmetry that shifts depending on the viewer’s position. This variation not only alters the visual profile but also generates diverse cascades, enriching both the soundscape and the movement of the water.

The Fountain
Photo credit: John Sturrock

The Fountain
Photo credit: John Sturrock

Paulette and Fam with The Fountain
Photo credit: Cesare De Giglio

Durability and precision guided the material choices. The designers selected HI-MACS, a solid surface material known for colour stability and weather resistance, allowing the exact geometries needed for the layered structure. A palette of green vertical elements and turquoise water tables connects the sculpture to its landscape context while emphasising its aquatic character.

The Fountain
Photo credit: John Sturrock

The Fountain
Photo credit: John Sturrock

Lana with The Fountain
Photo credit: Cesare De Giglio

Beyond aesthetics, The Fountain aims to shape the experience of the square. Residents and visitors encounter a steady, calming sound that softens the urban environment, making the space more welcoming for casual use. Children often interact directly with the shallow pool and cascades, adding animation and playfulness—an intentional duality, according to NEON’s Mark Nixon. He notes that the piece was designed to shift naturally between contemplation and light-hearted engagement depending on how people choose to use it.

Julie and Buster with The Fountain
Photo credit: Cesare De Giglio

At its launch, the project expanded its community focus through a participatory portrait initiative. Working with photographer Cesare De Giglio, NEON and partners invited locals to share personal “wishes for the future,” echoing the tradition of tossing a wish into a fountain. The collected images and statements were displayed in an exhibition, helping embed the community’s stories into the identity of the new public artwork.

In blending sculptural form, water, public interaction, and local narratives, The Fountain aims to become both a landmark and a living symbol of Brent Cross Town’s evolving character.

NEON

NEON is a UK-based artistic practice exploring the territory between art, architecture and design. Led by architect Mark Nixon and visual artist Viliina Koivisto, the studio creates projects that aim to enrich everyday experience through sensory, spatial, and environmental awareness. NEON develops responses to unique sites around the world, drawing out qualities they find particular to each context. As a result, the studio’s work shifts in method and appearance, but always centres on creating meaningful experiences for the public.