Koi pond design

Koi pond design is gaining popularity in Houston. Recently, one of our major projects in River Oaks involved designing a contemporary garden around the central figure of a koi pond. The details of this project can be referenced in the case study on this project, which details the eclectic nature of this unique architectural feature in relationship to the home and surrounding landscaping elements. Koi ponds are highly unique in terms of both design and construction. They typically occupy a unique position on a property and function as major elements within a landscape design theme.

Koi ponds are so named because they were originally developed as environments for koi fish. Koi are a hybrid species of carp produced by cross-breeding German carp with Asian carp. They are highly colorful and have very soft mouths. They are a very benign and docile species that can even be trained to take food from the hand of a person. Because koi are sensitive fish, the ponds they live in must be designed with maximum life support and safety in mind. The water must be carefully filtered and aerated so there is always plenty of oxygen for the koi to breath. The pond must also measure a certain depth in order to give them room to dart away from predators and lower themselves closer to the bottom of the pool on a hot day. Ideally as well, certain structures should also be incorporated into the overall design in order to give them a place to hide from predators.

While a koi pond must work on all levels to support the life cycle of the fish it contains, its design must also feature exceptional aesthetic elements or patterns of recognizable geometric forms. Many, such as the one we did in our River Oaks project, are rectangular in nature and approximately the size of swimming pools. Others are perfect circles with ornamental coping that compliments patio tile or stone and serves a dual purpose of creating an overhanging structure that covers a portion of the water to create shelter and shade for koi. A koi pond can also be built to mimic a natural body of water in a manner similar to the way we design natural swimming pools. Waterfalls and ornamental rock formations can then be added to create a backyard landscape that is equivalent to a walk through a wilderness park.

Other koi ponds feature designs that range from the formal and traditional to the ultra-contemporary and the avant garde. One of the many popular traditional styles is the Japanese garden. The Japanese garden is a multidimensional blend of greenery and water, normally highlighted with a cascading fountain that looks like a stone stairway. In areas of the city that favor more eclectic blends of architecture and modern art forms, koi ponds can become a form of contemporary art unto themselves, combining unique geometric angles and linear forms with contemporary, custom fountains that add a subjective, three dimensional presence to their aesthetic.

If you have considered adding a koi pond to your residence, no doubt you have already run across koi pond design kits on other websites. Do not buy these. The heavy clay content of Houston soil makes it a very tricky environment for construction of any type, and the logistics of planning, installing, and engineering filtration and aeration of the pond are complexities best delegated to professionals who will give you a satisfying and lasting return on your investment.