Integrating Water Features in Your Design…

Matthew W. Johnson

LDAR 520

Senior Seminar

Spring 2009

Learning Outcomes

Increase design and sales opportunities by properly integrating water in your design.

Understand and avoid reoccurring design and build mistakes.

Learn and apply the technical details that make a quality water feature. (substructures, equipment, accessibility, audible/visual details)

Prepare correct specifications for the bidding process.

Understand what drives the overall cost of a water feature.

Water Features? Definition: any full range of fountains, pools, ponds,

cascades, waterfalls and streams

History: the earliest history of water fountains can be found carved in ancient Egyptian tombs

Ancient Grotto of Thetis Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Modern Princess of Wales Memorial

Ancient Features

Center

Left

Right

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

•Hanging Gardens of Semiramis

•In Iraq

•Seven Wonders of the World

•Built by Nebuchadnezzar II around 600 BC

•The gardens were destroyed by several earthquakes after the 2nd century BC

Defining the features purpose

How does the client intend the feature to be used and interacted with?

Interactive features require suitable access to the water in the form of solid edges, stepping stones, bridges, etc.

Healing gardens often incorporate soft acoustics, private areas for conversation and contemplation.

Aquatic gardens often provide visitors the ability to get personal.

Koi ponds require structural consideration so one can view and touch the Koi

Understand that life needs to be supported and the feature itself should be sustained and managed.

Healing Gardens Designed to make people feel better,

goal is to make one feel less stressed, comfortable and safe

Design principlesSimplicityVarietyBalanceScaleSequence

Plant selectionNY

Healing…

Specific uses of Healing Gardens…

Psychiatric Hospital Gardens Children's Gardens Nursing Home Gardens Sensory Gardens Alzheimer's Treatment Gardens Hospice Gardens Gardens for the Visually Impaired

Aquatic Gardens

Usually man-made & consist of aquatic plants and ornamental fish.

Fixed items such as rocks, fountains, waterfalls and watercourses can be combined with the pool to add visual interest and integration with the local landscape and environment.

Koi Ponds Location

Shade Construction

Large ponds Plants?

Underwater or Potted Water

Not-so-fresh! Maintenance

Take care of your fish…

Types of features

Indoor

OutdoorPick right locationScalePermit?Moving or Stand-still?

Styles… Formal- significant definition relative to

pond edging, plants, hardscape Natural- hard due to the rock placement and

geological character of each rock Japanese- intense detail, every element has

a purpose Commercial- designed for ‘wow’; oversized Architectural- incorporate material’s that

have been manipulated

Understanding Quality

Critical and problematic elements of water features to avoidUse of materials

Guidelines for material and equipment selectionNarrow search

Select a qualified contractorDo not select a pond guy for a

waterfall design.

Formal Japanese

Design Fundamentals Sizing and placement of feature in the environment

Visual/audible options

Durable materials and equipment

Providing various means of easy access and interactivity

Edge types Formal Semi-formal Natural

Landscape treatments and planting pockets

Common MistakesWant to have a complete design?

Sizing basins and streams

Improper use of good materials

Improper edging techniques

Use of rocks/boulders

Making it difficult to see

‘Necklace Effect’

Accordance

Construction Sub-structural considerations

Seismic events Unstable soils Bearing weight

Water retention and proofing methods Clay Liquid rubber liners

Natural stone Overall care

Plant selection

Acoustic/Visual Elements

Does it have to be noisy???No

Enhance visibilityReflect

Authenticity of rock placementChaos

Cost Drivers

Are your pockets are as deep as your ideas?

Site conditions and grades

Complexity of design

Cost of major elements

Understanding YOU…

SpecsCreate baseline specs to ensure quality

Mechanical components

Material selection

Aesthetic elements

Contractor experience

Overall project conditions

THANKS