Custom Fountain Design

Custom fountains are designed to fulfill a special role in a specific portion of the landscape. They are developed in accordance with a comprehensive landscaping plan that establishes the theme and tone of the landscape, and they play a major role as individual elements in relationship to the whole. Each one must stand alone as an individual work of art that extends its aesthetic into its surroundings to the extent that it represents an experience and a state of mind.

One of the most exciting things we have always loved about custom fountain design is the sheer joy of creating a functioning work of art. Fountains are dynamic elements, contributing both sound and motion to an otherwise static landscape. In the day, they add tranquility to the landscape that offers a refuge from the busy, stressful world outside. Many people even begin their day sitting on a special patio near such a fountain. They find that the subtle nuances of how the water falls, drips, and splashes back into itself bring them a sense of peace and uncertainty in a troubled and uncertain world. At night, special lighting can transform ornament and sound into a magical display of illuminated liquid form.In a very real sense, custom fountain design involves a special recreation of certain archetypal forms (stone, water, and light) in a highly personalized fashion that speaks to a number of considerations at once. First and foremost, as with all landscaping architecture, we must make certain that the basic physical structure of the fountain compliment the architecture of the home. We must also make certain that basic geometric patterns that we use to build the structure are also reflective to a certain extent of the organic geometry of gardens, outdoor buildings, and other water features. There is a great deal to consider when making these oftentimes very difficult design decisions. Will a custom fountain work best as a linear trough, a multi-tiered design, or something completely abstract built into an avant garde or highly contemporary landscape? Does the water need to come up or pour down? Will the fountain be designed as part of another structure, such as a pond or custom swimming pool? Should the lighting be concentrated on only the water, or on the entirety of the unit? If he client wishes the fountain to be adjustable to some extent, what mechanisms will we install to adjust the height of the water, or vary the intensity of lighting?

The answers to many of these questions are going to initially be based on client preference, need, and desire. It is our policy to respect the wishes of the homeowners and give them an end result that truly satisfies their expectations. It is also our responsibility to make certain that the fulfillment of these expectations is done in accordance with sound professional principles. Custom fountain design may appear to be a simple matter of building a shell with a decorative bottom and coping, but it is much more complex in reality. Masking the sound of the pump is often the greatest challenge that do-it-yourselfers and amateur landscapers normally run into. Managing debris that falls into the fountain is another problem. Pumps and filters have to be carefully designed not only to run silently, but to be protected as much as possible from foreign elements that can and do find their way into the water.

Professional landscapers know how to find the answers to all of questions we have looked at today, and they know how to mask the mechanical and the functional behind the aesthetic and the ambient. While the investment required for custom fountain design is significantly higher than purchasing a premade unit, the return on investment that comes through superior longevity and more robust functionality and aesthetic represent both tangibles and intangibles that nothing short of the best can ever provide.