Creating a landmark HIMACS fountain at Brent Cross Town

When a 4.3-metre sculptural fountain needs fabricating from acrylic, it’s not a job for just anyone. The design has to be exact, the material expertise has to be there and the fabrication has to be spot-on.

So, when White Wall Company approached us with plans for a contemporary fountain in Neighbourhood Square at Brent Cross Town – a major regeneration scheme in north London – we were excited to get stuck in. The fountain needed to work as both a functional water feature and a piece of public art. Our job was handling the solid surface fabrication

Project snapshot

Client: Related Argent / Brent Cross Town
Artists/designers: NEON (Mark Nixon & Viliina Koivisto)
Main contractor: The White Wall Company
Fabricator: DFMK
Material: HIMACS (Emerald, Light Green)
Height: 4.3 metres
Timeline: April 2025 (production start) to September 2025 (installation complete)
Location: Neighbourhood Square, Brent Cross Town, London

The brief

Most traditional tiered fountains follow a familiar pattern – you stack the plates and you’re done. This one was different. Every tier sat at a different angle from the one below, with each plate offset and rotated. The geometry was more demanding, which meant getting the fabrication accurate was everything.

The drawings called for individual fins wrapped around each tier. Each plate had to be carefully templated so the water would flow properly and the layers would align perfectly during assembly. And, the fountain would be sitting in a busy public square – exposed to constant weather, direct sunlight, heavy footfall and continuous water flow.

This was the first fountain of its kind to be manufactured and installed in the UK using HIMACS, which made it an exciting project for us. It’s the kind of work that shows what solid surfaces can do when you push them in directions people don’t always expect.

Why HIMACS?

We’ve worked with HIMACS for years, so we know what it can handle. But this project was something a little different. For a public fountain, the outdoor performance was key.

What makes HIMACS work for this kind of project?

• Weather resistance – it holds up well against UV exposure, temperature changes and moisture without degrading or fading
• Colour stability – the pigment runs through the entire thickness of the material, so the colour stays consistent even with wear
• Thermoformability – HIMACS can be shaped into complex shapes, which was important for those intricate fin details
• Non-porous surface – prevents water absorption, algae growth and staining
• Long lifespan – designed for longevity with minimal ongoing maintenance

We worked with two HIMACS colours for this project:

• Emerald – for the vertical fins and main fountain disks
• Light green – for the corbel sections and water tables

The fabrication and assembly

Each tier varied in diameter and rotation, and every fin required individual cutting and finishing. We started production in April 2025, working closely from the technical drawings to plan how each section would be fabricated and prepared for transport.

We made the fountain in large sections that could be moved to Whitewall’s facility for assembly. The split worked well – we focused on the solid surface fabrication, while Whitewall handled the structural build and brought everything together on site.

Regular check-ins kept things on track. We concentrated on getting the solid surface work right, and they dealt with the engineering side. It meant problems got sorted quickly rather than becoming issues later on.

By September 2025, the fountain was in place at the centre of Neighbourhood Square. The green HIMACS stands out against the more neutral tones of the surrounding buildings, and the offset tiers mean the piece changes as you move around it. It looks different depending on where you’re standing, which was exactly what the designers intended.

What this project added to our portfolio

This was our first large-scale outdoor water feature, and it’s added something different to what we normally do. We’ve fabricated plenty of reception desks, wall cladding and commercial interiors, but a large  public fountain pushed us into new territory.

It showed what HIMACS can do when it’s treated as a piece of public art, not just a practical finish. We knew the material would handle the outdoor conditions, but seeing it work in a high-traffic square with constant water flow and daily interaction proves it’s a solid choice for projects like this.

Brent Cross Town went on to win the Neighbourhood and Area prize at the NLA Awards 2025. The scheme was recognised as a leading example of a future ‘park town’ and the fountain now sits at the heart of that vision as a permanent feature.

The bigger picture

When the regeneration scheme at Brent Cross Town is complete, there’ll be 6,700 homes, 3 million square feet of workspace, 50 acres of parks, three schools and a high street. The first residents moved in during 2025, and Neighbourhood Square, where the fountain sits, is the main public space.

The fountain is part of a wider public art strategy for the area, alongside other commissioned pieces that create an art trail through the neighbourhood. It was designed as a pause point where people can stop, sit and take a moment in the busy London setting.

We don’t often get to work on large-scale public art projects, but when the opportunity came up, we knew we had the skills to deliver it. It’s the kind of work we’re set up for – complex geometry, precise fabrication and material that needs to perform for years in a demanding environment. It’s added a landmark piece to our portfolio and reinforced what we’ve always known – that in the right hands, solid surfaces can go way beyond the expected.

We’ve been fabricating premium solid surfaces for over 40 years. From public art and exterior features to commercial interiors, we help clients turn complex ideas into finished pieces that work. If you have a project in mind, we’re always happy to talk it through. Get in touch to discuss your project.