Dezeen Magazine

Sabine Marcelis stacks reclaimed onyx slabs for fountain in Amsterdam's Vondelpark

Designer Sabine Marcelis has teamed up with Dutch stone supplier SolidNature to create a water fountain in Amsterdam's biggest and most famous park.

Located in front of the Vondel Paviljoen and near the Blue Tea House in Vondelpark, the installation features three stacked stone volumes placed at differing orientations, with water pouring down from two sides.

Blue water fountain on a lake
Sabine Marcelis has created a fountain for Vondelpark

Named Vondel Fountain, Stacked, the piece repurposes coloured onyx stone slabs from the SolidNature installation at last year's Milan Design Week.

"By repurposing these materials, we not only reduce waste but also showcase the timeless and enduring quality of natural stone," SolidNature CEO David Mahyari told Dezeen.

Onyx stone water fountain
The fountain is made using repurposed stone from an installation at Milan Design Week 2023

The movement of water is an ongoing preoccupation for Marcelis, who has also designed fountains for fashion brand Fendi and the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona.

"These experiences have enhanced my understanding of how water can transform spaces, through its movement, sound and the ambience it creates," she told Dezeen.

"Water has been a recurring element in my work, acting as both a medium and a source of inspiration."

Vondel Fountain, Stacked marks the latest in a series of collaborative projects between Marcelis and SolidNature.

Previously, the duo worked together to create a series of rotating chairs for St Giles Square as part of the 2022 London Design Festival and a monolithic pink onyx bathroom, presented as part of the Monumental Wonders exhibition at Milan Design Week 2023.

Blue onyx stone slab
The blue stone matches the nearby Blue Tea House in Vondelpark

"The work we've done together highlights the importance of cross-pollinating between creative fields, fostering innovation and pushing boundaries," Mahyari said.

Revealed during Amsterdam Fashion Week, the installation will remain on display for the public to view for three months, offering "a space for public interaction and enjoyment in Amsterdam's Vondelpark", Marcelis said.

The photography courtesy of SolidNature.