A Contemporary Take on Classical Fountain Design by NEON: The Fountain

Doğukan Güngör
Dec 7, 2025
2 min read

Photography - © John Sturrock / Cesare De Giglio

Situated in Brent Cross Town, The Fountain was designed by NEON Studio as a sculptural water feature. Created to offer calm through sound, spark curiosity through form, and bring people together, the project establishes a lively focal point for public life in the district’s emerging centre.

You can read the interview with Mark Nixon, one of NEON’s founders.

What if a building could move in the wind or a bridge could be played like a musical instrument? | Mark Nixon - NEON

Form and Material

NEON shaped The Fountain with a simplicity that feels both intentional and quietly striking. Stacked plates are subtly shifted in plan, creating a gentle asymmetry that makes the structure appear different from every angle. As water moves through this form, it changes direction, generating a unique rhythm of sound and motion on each side.

Durability guided the team’s material choices. HI-MACS was selected for its resilience to outdoor conditions and its ability to accommodate precise geometries. Green tones on the vertical surfaces connect the fountain to the surrounding landscape, while the turquoise surfaces that channel the water recall the aesthetic of classical European fountains. Together, these colours root the piece in its context while allowing it to maintain a distinct identity.

User Experience and Community Connection

The Fountain transforms its setting into a gentle point of encounter. People sit around it, listening to the flow or simply watching the water play across the form. Children, drawn to the movement, often turn the fountain into an impromptu play space.

Mark Nixon, NEON’s co-founder, explains this intent:“

We designed the piece to feel both serene and playful depending on how people approach it. While it offers calm through the sound of water, it can also come alive with the energy of children. This fluidity fits beautifully with the nature of public space.

Community Engagement

The project’s opening was paired with a community initiative that reinterpreted the tradition of making wishes at fountains. NEON, Related Argent and Barnet Council collaborated with photographer Cesare De Giglio to invite local residents to participate in a portrait series, sharing their personal hopes for the future. These wishes later formed a public exhibition, transforming The Fountain from an artwork into a shared cultural memory—one that holds the stories and aspirations of its community.