This unique Memorial to Diana Princess of Wales in Hyde Park London was opened by Her Majesty The Queen on 6th July 2004. It is a fascinating example from landscape design.
Diana was the best loved princess in Britain and the fountain is a monument in Hyde Park for her.
Landscape architect Gustafson Poter succeed in evocating Diana's soft character and her ethical activities through using water. The design aims to reflect Diana's life, water flows from the highest point in two directions as it cascades, swirls and bubbles before meeting in a calm pool at the bottom. The water is constantly being refreshed and is drawn from London's water table.
The most impressive fact is that the physical elements of fountain design such as smooth shape of the fountain, or materials enable people to move emotionally! Surely it is the power of good design.
Although described as an oval stone fountain, it has the form of a large, oval stream bed about 50 by 80 m (165 by 260 feet) that surrounds, and is surrounded by, a lush grassy field. The granite streambed is from 3 to 6 m (10 to 20 feet) wide and quite shallow and is laid out on a gently sloping portion of the park, so that water pumped to the top of the oval flows down either side.
One side of the stream bed descends fairly smoothly to the downhill end of the oval with gentle ripples. The other side consists of a variety of steps, rills, curves, and other shapes so that the water plays in interesting ways as it flows to the tranquil pool at the bottom. The two sides were intended to show the two sides of Diana's life, both happy times and turmoil.
The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial fountain was built with the best materials, talent and technology. It contains 545 pieces of Cornish granite - each shaped by the latest computer-controlled machinery and pieced together using traditional skills.
This 545 individual pieces of Cornish granite were cut using sophisticated computer-guided cutting machines by S. McConnell & Sons in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland.
This design for peaceful sound from flowing water was best idea to reflect Diana's character. In order to make various kind of water flowing sound, they designed different depth and different width depends on the part of the fountain.
The Memorial also symbolises Diana's quality and openness. There are three bridges where you can cross the water and go right to the heart of the fountain. The owner of The Royal Parks in Hyde Park London hope visitors will feel at home when they visit this special place, and feel free to sit on the edge of the Memorial and refresh your feet.
Good design is always offering great experience to its owner and their guests.
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Emotional Design - Diana Memorial Fountain is a fabulous example of emotional design, a landscape design created that actually reaches inner emotion of many people and makes them feel something.
Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park London - is a fascinating landscape design offering great experience to her guests.