Earthly elements
Qualities to consider when choosing a water feature
Buried within every one of us is a primal response to water. It is a living legacy of early humans, who could not survive for long without this precious resource at hand. Water is pervasive in our historic literature; for example, biblical psalms often refer to water as a symbol of life in the dry deserts of the Holy Land. Human beings first settled along natural waterways in the Euphrates Valley, and no camp or village would exist long without water nearby. While the conscious mind may view water as merely hydration for the body, it is a subconscious reaction that evokes feelings of well being, linked to the very survival of our species.
When this primal element is introduced into the modern design milieu, it can be difficult to find great ideas for water in the landscape. The key is to rely on the two constants of this style: art and na-
ture. Water may be very subtle in smaller spaces or profound in larger ones. Consider these qualities when you seek just the right element for your fluid expression.
1 The primal response to water is vastly more important in our desert than elsewhere.
2 Water features add animation and movement amidst static space and architecture.
3 Moving water catches light, it glints in the sun and adds a shining dynamic amidst matte textures.
4 Ambient city noise is easily masked by the tinkle of spouts to the roar of a waterfall.
5 Water features are pure beauty that transcend concrete with the earth’s essential elements: rock and water.
No matter how beautiful the water feature may appear, it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The surrounding landscape can either enhance or detract from its visual quality. Indoor spaces must relate directly to those outside, and the pivotal points governing that relationship are windows and doors. This visual connection to the indoor rooms is the foundation that guides where such a feature is best located.
Due to the unique appearance of modern design homes and landscapes, the vast majority of fountain designs simply don’t work. Most are vulnerable to a great deal of evaporation unless the design is a gentle flow. Here in the desert where we are surrounded by barren mountains, it makes sense to turn to real stone. Extraordinary minerals and polished granite create particularly outstanding looks. After all, most of the minerals offer bold colors while other types of stone are more earth tone.
Decades ago, the first pillar fountains were dark basalt pillars drilled and piped to flow into underground catchment without splash. This aided water conservation in windy areas. As a problem-solving design concept born in our climate, it is familiar to local stone yards and contractors. How many pillars, the size, number or juxtaposition of the vertical elements are all up to you and your designer. It’s created from scratch and can easily be a one-of-a-kind feature that wows your guests.
The big stone fountains are set in ground without surface pools that gather litter and grow algae. With a strong foundation piped and wired underground and out of sight, it can stand just about anywhere. Set the pillars in a sea of complementary gravels or river stones. All of these materials should be selected with awareness of interiors colors and materials to achieve linkage between indoor and outdoor spaces.
With so many outstanding stone sources in the desert, the options are unlimited when using pricey drilled mineral slabs to create a freestanding water feature. When the water begins to flow, the wet stone takes on a deeper, more vivid coloring. Occasional cleaning with CLR will keep lime scale at bay.
The desert is a place most suited to stone because we are surrounded by it on all sides. Modern technologies let us bring those mountains in close with a big water feature. This concept easily stands dry until we return home for the season to start it up and begin living the good life in a land of eternal sunshine.