Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain
The Princess Diana Memorial Fountain is to be understood as a memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales. It is located in the southwestern area of London's Hyde Park, in the immediate vicinity of the Serpentine Lake. The groundbreaking ceremony was held by Queen Elizabeth II in September 2003. On 6 July 2004, the fountain was officially inaugurated.
The fountain was designed by American landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson and cost 3.6 million pounds. The total of 545 items were made - created Granite in Northern Ireland with the help of a computer controlled milling machine - originating from Cornwall.
It is generally referred to as an oval stone fountain and surrounds an area of 50 m x 80 m. The single granite elements are 3-6 m wide. It is located on a gently sloping terrain. This allows the water to flow on both sides of the current in the larger lower reservoir. On the one hand, the water flows rather quiet down with a slight crimp. The other side is, however, curves, levels, etc. coined what a wilder River caused the water to turn flows into the silent reservoir. This concept is designed to reflect each of the happy and turbulent years in Diana's life.
The accessibility of the well and the water contact should also symbolize the contemporary and accessible personality Diana. However, it was due to its accessibility soon to several accidents because people from slipping on the wet stone. So the well was already closed again shortly after its opening. Three weeks later, in August 2004, he was put back into operation. He is now surrounded by a small fence and is monitored by six security guards.
Although the fountain was in operation only a short time and had it not been raining heavily, the surrounding soil was softened by overflowing water, so that it was feared he would silt up with heavy rainfall. Then we took further steps in December 2004: A new system to better drainage of the soil has been installed, much frequented treads were paved and planted a lawn more resistant.