The Fountain by NEON Animates Brent Cross Town

NEON brings a sculptural presence to Brent Cross Town with The Fountain, a 4.3 metre public water feature that reinterprets classic European civic fountains in a distinctly contemporary way. Installed at Neighbourhood Square, the piece reflects NEON’s ongoing interest in crafting sensory, spatial, and environmentally attuned experiences. Through its gentle soundscape, shifting cascades, and fluid geometry, the intervention positions itself as a moment of calm within the expanding urban fabric of London’s newest mixed use district.

A Contemporary Pause Within a Growing Neighbourhood

The Fountain revisits the familiar language of civic fountains found across Europe, yet moves beyond decorative symbolism to emphasise interaction and sensory presence. NEON aimed to establish a point of curiosity and pause within Neighbourhood Square, acknowledging that successful public spaces often balance landmark identity with the ability to support informal, everyday occupation. Water becomes both spectacle and atmosphere, giving the square a softening acoustic backdrop.

Materiality and Form: Subtle Asymmetry, Strong Durability

Central to the design is a stack of HI MACS plates arranged with slight asymmetry, ensuring the sculpture appears different from every approach. This controlled offsetting creates distinct water paths and varied visual rhythms, contributing to the work’s spatial richness. NEON selected HI-MACS for its colour stability, machining precision, and long term performance in outdoor environments, ensuring the fountain maintains both structural integrity and aesthetic clarity with minimal maintenance.

The palette also deepens the project’s relationship to site: green vertical fins nod to the wider landscape strategy of Brent Cross Town, while turquoise water tables echo the blue green tones traditionally associated with flowing water. These tonal cues allow the fountain to sit confidently within the emerging public realm.

A Public Artwork Balancing Calm and Play

The Fountain encourages relaxed, unprogrammed interaction. Adults often experience the work as a source of calm, allowing the soft sound of water to moderate the pace of the square. Children, on the other hand, frequently gravitate toward the shallow pool and playful cascades, adding spontaneous energy to the space. NEON’s intention was to design an artwork capable of shifting between contemplation and play, depending on how people choose to engage.

Community, Participation, and Local Ownership

The unveiling included a portrait initiative involving residents, workers, and visitors, captured by photographer Cesare De Giglio. Participants shared a “wish for the future,” subtly echoing traditions associated with wishing fountains. This layer of engagement helped embed community stories into the artwork and strengthened the sense of local ownership. Through gestures like this, NEON extends its commitment to public experience beyond form and material.

The Fountain ultimately reflects NEON’s broader approach: designing pieces that heighten sensory awareness while inviting the public to build their own relationship with a site. As Brent Cross Town continues its transformation, the presence of this sculptural water feature establishes a memorable anchor for the district and reinforces NEON’s belief in creating meaningful public encounters.

Technical Sheet