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Consultant Rider Levett Bucknall has acted as project manager on the first drinking fountain for more than three decades.

The Freeman Family Fountain was designed by sculptor David Harber and donated to London’s Hyde Park by property developer and Royal Parks Foundation trustee Michael Freeman.

The fountain is a 1.2m diameter sphere made of mirror-polished, marine-grade stainless steel, studded with petals of oxidized verdigris bronze.

Set on a granite plinth, it has four drinking stations and a spout to fill up water bottles.

Darren Woodward, project manager at RLB’s London Office and responsible for the scheme, said: "It is the first time in 30 years that the park has had a new public drinking fountain.

"It will not only provide welcome refreshment to many users of the park, but will help protect the environment by reducing the need for bottled water."

The fountain sits 300m from Marble Arch tube station and 100m from Cumberland Gate.

Harber’s sculptures and water features can be seen at Heathrow’s Terminal 5, Princeton University and the Raffles Hotel in Dubai.