Nuffield College

Renovation of an historic water feature within a courtyard at Nuffield College, University of Oxford consisting of a 4 metre square pool with a central artistic sculpture and spraying jets, three per sculpture element.

Over the years, the feature had been added to and modified, but it had gradually fallen into disrepair. The College wanted to restore it to a contemporary level once more as part of extensive landscaping projects going on nearby.

As part of the renovation, four LED spotlights illuminate the underside of the sculpture. The base of the feature has been raised to form a sump to discretely house the display pump, new supply pipework and cabling. An overflow and automatic water top-up has been incorporated and a complete water treatment system in line with current requirements and guidelines installed within the basement of the nearby building.

An external stone water table incorporated as part of the external works for The Acland Project at Keble College Oxford. 

The dark stone that forms the plinth of the water table provides a stark contrast to the brickwork and outdoor space of the courtyard beyond.

The gentle flow of water over the smooth stone appears to pull the surface of the water tight increasing the reflective qualities on the surface of the table, this element especially poignant as Keble College marks the 150th anniversary of its’ foundation reflecting on the old and looking to the future.

Passers-by are drawn to touch and explore the surface.

Water is delivered to the top of the table and introduced through five bubbler feature nozzles with the water falling away on one end of the feature into a peripheral gulley providing an acoustic break.

Each bubbler has three LEDs around it to illuminate the display.