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Unit IV
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WATER GARDEN

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UNIT IV WATER GARDEN

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A Historical recounting of water gardening
General guidelines for designing a water garden

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Brief over view of formal and informal types
Basic Data`s Materials selection, Edging option, making a
site plan etc.,

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Construction details - Lined in-ground pond
Pre formed in-ground pond

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Streams and Waterfalls

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Fountains and Lighting
Bridges and Stepping stones
Wetland or Bog garden.


Short History of Water Gardening

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Water gardens not only add garden artwork to the place, but they
also provide many functions, from adding a calming ambiance to

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providing water for wildlife. Knowing a little bit about the history of
water gardens may help you decide if you want to include a water
feature in your garden.

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Fountains and Water Features from the Middle ages to the Early

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Renaissance
The earliest planned gardens which included ponds were probably
in Egypt as early as 2800 BC

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Decorative ponds and fountains were a major feature in gardens of
the Middle Eastern civilizations of Mesopotamia, stimulated by the
need for irrigation canals. The design tended to include four water

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features in the form of a cross


design in such nations as Spain and India.

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The later Persian and Islamic empires greatly influenced garden

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The Imperial Gardens developed during the Han Dynasty (from
206 BCE) in China are the first we can find noted for water features.

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Roman gardens were largely utilitarian though the gardens of the
affluent during the Roman Empire assimilated Islamic design, the
use of fountains in particular.

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The collapse of the Roman Empire signaled a virtual end to
ornamental gardening in Western Europe until the Islamic
conquest of Spain in the eighth century. The pools and fountains of
the Alhambra are major examples of that influence as is the Taj
Mahal in India.

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In 552, Buddhism was introduced to Japan, enhancing the
incorporation of water and the lotus in Japanese garden design.

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fourteenth century.

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gardening until the beginning of the Renaissance in the late
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After the fall of the Roman Empire, monasteries kept alive utilitarian

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They led the way in the management of land and control of water,
using wells, local rivers and streams for domestic use and for
fishponds. Simple cisterns could be found in cloister gardens

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From the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries, Crusaders brought
back from the Middle East a desire to create ornamental gardens
with water features.

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The Renaissance brought with it a rebirth of formal gardens in
Europe, in Italy especially. Baroque gardens of the seventeenth
century included Versailles.

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The rise of the industrial age, introduced the modern water pump,
water was not re-circulated, but was diverted
from rivers and springs into the water garden, exiting into agricultural

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fields or natural watercourses.
General guidelines for designing a water garden

Aesthetic Factors

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Visual

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Water display can strongly temper the character of a place
A sense of calm and serenity is created by a quiet stream or pool

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Excitement and drama can be achieved by swiftly moving, strong

vertical displays

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Mood further defined by appropriate lighting

Auditory

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The intensity and frequency of the sound generated by a water

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display can be used as stated above

It can also mask unpleasant or distracting ambient noise

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Sensory effects

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Airborne spray and evaporation from water displays cause a cooling
effect

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Droplets and sprays from active aerated displays are particularly
effective

Functional Factors

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Recreation
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Pools may be designed for wading, swimming, fishing, boating or
just water play

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Circulation control
Pools may be used to direct or interrupt traffic patterns for reasons
of safety or security or simply to promote an orderly progression

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through a space


Utilitarian

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Practical applications for water include their use as fire fighting or
irrigation, reservoir as a retention pond for site drainage or as means

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for cooling air

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Water Effects

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They can grouped into three categories

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Still water

Moving water

Free falling water

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Still water

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The container defines the form
assumed by water.

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The finish of the surface and
condition of water influences the

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ultimate effect.

A dark surface which is

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undisturbed will function as a
reflector.

A light-colored or a patterned

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finish surface acts as a window.

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A textured surface will impart a
dynamic quality

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Moving water

Has two sub categories

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 Falling
 Spout (jet)

Falling is further categorized as

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 Free-falling
 Flowing

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 Cascading

Free-falling

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 Moves vertically without contacting the surface mostly expressed as
sheet

Flowing


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By contrast it is constantly in contact with the surface

Cascading


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It is the combination of flowing and falling water.
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Spouting water

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Relies on applied force to direct water through a nozzle.

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Applications

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Still water is applied for pool or fountain design. They may be used in quiet,
passive areas

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Moving water used in still areas as a complementary element

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Free-falling displays and steep cascades can provide a high level of activity
and visibility

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Smooth waterwalls and broken sheets have limited application. A smooth
waterwall is limited to close viewing and does not generate any significant
sound

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Streams are used to provide a sense of continuity, to direct or interrupt

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traffic patterns

Spouting water provides verticality and sound so can be used to provide

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dynamics, sculptural compositions.
Guidelines for good design

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Scale: is most important variable. The water feature must relae to a

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space that is a component of larger space. Scale and proportion
among the parts of the fountain itself are equally important.

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Setting: the shape, edge condition, materials and type will influence
the formality of the design. A very formal setting will require a strong
geometric shapes. Conversely a naturalistic design requires more
organic shapes and soft edges. The above variable also influence

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the location whether indoor or outdoors, urban or sub-urban,
commercial or residential

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Topography: it is difficult to design a large reflecting pool on a

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steep sloping site. A more viable solution is to have a inerconnected
ponds.

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Guidelines for good design

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Climate: this variable is very important in terms of outdoor

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installation. Prevailing winds, sunshine frequency and orientation
and temperature extremes can offer direction as well as constraint.

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the single most important element
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Materials: the most primary determinant and continuity of material is

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Budget & Maintenance

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Over view of formal and informal types

Pools can be split into two main categories:

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 Formal

 Informal

FORMAL POOLS


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Formal pools usually have a strong geometric shape. They can
be raised to produce a stronger effect, or they can be used to

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create a focal point.

Many courtyard gardens have a formal pool at the centre, which

is used to reflect the shape of the surrounding walls whilst

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creating a focal or pivot point.

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Formal type

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The courtyards in the work place using water in these areas can be
soothing and enchanting, both to those directly using the area, and
for those having a windows opening on to the area.

It also has the benefit of cooling effect.

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Courtyard with a square pool
in its centre could make the
area feel restricted, especially

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if the pool is raised.

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One characteristic of formal garden ponds is that the

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