Integrating Water Features in Your Design… Matthew W. Johnson LDAR 520 Senior Seminar Spring 2009.
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Transcript of 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
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…
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.
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