Diana memorial designer named

The work will be built next to the Serpentine in Hyde Park

LONDON, England -- The commission to design a memorial fountain to Diana, Princess of Wales, has been awarded to American landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson.

Gustafson's creation, based on a large oval stone ring, will be built next to the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London.

Work on the final design will begin almost immediately, with the fountain expected to be in place by the sixth anniversary of Diana's death in August 2003.

Gustafson's design was chosen from 58 entries by the UK's Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell after the memorial committee that was supposed to make a decision became deadlocked.

The committee could not chose between Gustafson's work and the entry of Bombay-based designer and former Turner Prize winner Anish Kapoor.

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"I pay tribute to both the two leading designs. This was the judgment of Solomon," said Jowell, who made the final decision.

"But there had to be just one winner. And now that we have one, we can move on to build a worthy memorial to Diana's life."

Gustafson's £3 million design involves water pouring into the structure from the top of a hill at the Serpentine Bridge and running down in two directions.

Both end in a pool in a dished hollow. At night the shape, which can be planted with plants and trees, would be lit up.

The water will be shallow enough for children to paddle and play in and spectators would be able to touch the water.

Gustafson said: "The ability to affect those with whom one comes into contact, while being affected by those around one -- these were both attributes associated with Princess Diana.

"We have endeavoured to create a water feature that can be associated with these features."

Kapoor's rival design involved jets of coloured water on a square base to create the effect of a 15-feet high dome floating on the surface of the Serpentine.

A set of white marble steps on the shore -- 180ft wide at the bottom -- would provide a viewpoint.

Gustafson has offices in Seattle and London and has landscaped the Esso, L'Oreal and Shell corporate headquarters in France and the Royal National Botanic Garden of Wales.

The Diana memorial plaque in Kensington Gardens near her former home

The fountain, initially announced by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1999, will be paid for with public funds and by the sale of official commemorative coins.

In 2000, a seven-mile commemorative walkway through the capital's Royal Parks and a memorial playground in Kensington Gardens were dedicated to Diana.

The fountain will be added to the memorial walk, which highlights buildings and locations associated with her.

There is also a memorial to Diana at her family's Althorp estate, where she is buried.

It is hoped the memorial will be completed by August 2003, in time for the sixth anniversary of Diana's death in a car crash in Paris.