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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. Ancient Features

5. Center Left Right

6. Hanging Gardens of Babylon Hanging Gardens of Semiramis In Iraq Seven Wonders of the World Built by Nebuchadnezzar II around 600 BCNebuchadnezzar II The gardens were destroyed by several earthquakes after the 2nd century BC

8. 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.

9. Healing Gardens  Designed to make people feel better, goal is to make one feel less stressed, comfortable and safe  Design principles Simplicity Variety Balance Scale Sequence  Plant selection NY

10. 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

12. 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.

14. Koi Ponds  Location Shade  Construction Large ponds  Plants? Underwater or Potted  Water Not-so-fresh!  Maintenance Take care of your fish…

16. Types of features  Indoor  Outdoor Pick right location Scale Permit? Moving or Stand-still?

17. 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

18. Understanding Quality  Critical and problematic elements of water features to avoid Use of materials  Guidelines for material and equipment selection Narrow search  Select a qualified contractor Do not select a pond guy for a waterfall design.

19. FormalJapanese

20. 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

22. Common Mistakes Want 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

23. 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

24. Acoustic/Visual Elements  Does it have to be noisy??? No  Enhance visibility Reflect  Authenticity of rock placement Chaos

25. Cost Drivers Are your pockets are as deep as your ideas?  Site conditions and grades  Complexity of design  Cost of major elements  Understanding YOU…

26. Specs Create baseline specs to ensure quality  Mechanical components  Material selection  Aesthetic elements  Contractor experience  Overall project conditions

27. THANKS