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July 30, 2004
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Images Courtesy The Royal Parks
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The newly opened Princess Diana Memorial
Fountain in London's Hyde Park closed on July 22 due to safety
concerns. Designed by Seattle landscape artist Kathryn Gustafson,
the $6.7-million moat-like structure consists of a flowing
ring of water over a one-acre planted area.
The memorial, dedicated on July 6, has since been drained,
barricaded and closed indefinitely. Two adults and a child
suffered minor injuries when they slipped and fell in the
fountain, which is lined with smooth-cut granite. But the
fountain experienced other problems, including flooding and
a malfunctioning water pump, before its closing.
"An immediate meeting of the fountain designers, engineers
and independent health and safety experts has been called,"
said The Royal Parks in a statement. "The fountain will
not be re-opened until the investigation is complete and any
additional safety features that may prove necessary are in
place."
Gustafson's design, entitled "Reaching Out -- Letting
In," is meant to express Diana's open and gracious public
nature with "a necklace, set lightly across the existing
contours of the site." With depths of one-quarter inch
to 10 inches, visitors were encouraged to wade in the channel's
water.
Gustafson and her London partner Neil Porter beat-out proposals
from Sir Terry Farrell, Zaha Hadid, and Future Systems with
Anish Kapoor to land the commission in July 2002.
Tony Illia
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