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Delight.


LONDON'S PUBLIC LIFE HAS BEEN ENRICHED BY NEW MONUMENTAL FOUNTAINS IN THE RECENTLY RESTORED EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY COURTYARD OF SOMERSET HOUSE Somerset House is a large building situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The central block of the Neoclassical building, the outstanding project of the architect Sir William Chambers, dates from  ON THE NORTH BANK OF THE THAMES.

The new fountains in the great courtyard of Somerset House on the north bank of the Thames are the first public fountains to have been commissioned since those by Charles Barry Sir Charles Barry FRS (23 May 1795 – 12 May 1860) was an English architect, best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster (perhaps better known as the Houses of Parliament) in his home city of London during the mid 19th century, but also responsible  were installed in 1845 in Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square, in Westminster, London, England, named for Lord Nelson's victory at the battle of Trafalgar. The statue surmounting the Nelson memorial column (185 ft/56 m high) was sculpted (1840–43) by E. H. Baily. . This would be celebration enough -- for everyone in his right senses loves a fountain -- were it not that this adornment of London's grandest square has been contrived so elegantly by Jeremy Dixon.Edward Jones Edward, Eddie, or Ed Jones is the name of:

Edward Jones:
  • Edward Jones (statistician) (1856-1920), co-founder of the Dow-Jones index
  • Edward E. Jones (1927-1993), psychologist
  • Edward (Ted) G. Jones, neuroscientist
  • Edward P.
 with Donald Insall Associates (architects responsible for restoration of parts of Somerset House).

A grove of 55 jets of water in the centre of the square (more a cour d'honneur Cour d'Honneur, sometimes literally translated as "Court of Honour", is the architectural term for defining a three-sided courtyard, created when the main central corps de logis is flanked by symmetrical advancing secondary wings, containing minor rooms.  in French tradition) spring up from bases set flush with its granite paving. The display is choreographed electronically (by Light Matters) so that at intervals coming or happening with intervals between; now and then.

See also: Interval
 throughout the day the fountains ascend and descend in playful formation, and at night are magically illuminated by tiny fibre-optic lenses around their bases.

Elegance derives from discretion -- only the shining columns of water disturb the gravity of William Chambers' Neo-Classical architecture -- and from detailing. Although the courtyard slopes from north to south there is no great flood at the bottom. Water flows in a gleaming sheet over the granite surface into a perimeter channel around the fountain grid and drains back to subterranean pumps. The surrounding paving is dry.

Monumental fountains are rare in London and these, dedicated to Edmond J. Safra and made possible by support from his family and others, are a welcome addition to the city's public life.
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Title Annotation:fountains at Somerset House in London, England
Author:McGUIRE, PENNY
Publication:The Architectural Review
Article Type:Brief Article
Geographic Code:4EUUE
Date:Oct 1, 2000
Words:275
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