Interactive features

Fountain reflects Diana's 'joy and grief'

Gustafson said: "The concept is based upon the qualities of the Princess that were the most loved and cherished. These were inclusiveness and accessibility.

"It is a large oval, the size of a football pitch, that is a novel use of water, that is brilliant in the sunlight, that cascades down, that you can touch and you can be interactive with and that you can become part of."

The designer said they wanted to create an environment in which people could remember Diana and "not an icon that they can only look at".

The design details were revealed on Friday, following an announcement in July that American landscape artist Gustafson has won the prestigious commission.

Work on the ring-shaped stone fountain, to be built to the south of the Serpentine in London's Hyde Park, is set to begin 2003 and is expected to be finished by summer 2004.

The Royal Parks will submit details to Westminster Council for planning permission for the 50x80 metre fountain next week.

Water cascade

Water will enter the fountain at the highest point of the sloped design, tumbling downhill in two directions.

Down the east side, the water will flow down steps where water jets will make the stream bounce and jump.

The water will then enter an area carved so the water gently rolls along a subtle curve just before a dry crossing point for people to enter the centre of the fountain oval.

After the crossing, the water will pick up momentum before entering a sharp curve and ending up in a large, calm pool.

In contrast, the west side of the fountain sees the water gently bubbling along a narrow channel with subtle jets.

As it continues towards the pool at the end, the channel widens until a tumbling cascade of white water falls over a waterfall.

Both sides of the fountain spill into a reflective basin at the lowest point, where special texturing will make the surface of the water come alive.

"The design itself is supposed to mirror the different cycles of Diana's life. The choppy water is supposed to symbolize her marriage and also her public life and the turmoil she did have to go through in certain moments.

"It collects in a calm pool, which is supposed to represent the peace and the tranquility that she discovered at the end of her life.

"Also the fact that she loved children so much, it will become somewhat of a children's paddle pool at the bottom. It's anti-slip on the bottom, so children will actually be able to paddle in this pool," Hancocks said.