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One of our
more reputable achievements in recent years was a project in
River Oaks that involved replacing a fountain that stood in the
corner of the large brick wall. While only one of many elements
that we added, this new corner fountain played a significant
role in transforming the entire landscape. It introduced a new,
more symmetrical geometry to the yard, and it helped provide a
more noticeable, complimentary color contrast to that of the
brick wall behind it.
The existing corner fountain was a very old three-tiered
fountain structure that was common several decades ago. This is
the type of fountain you almost always see in old
 movies.
In a way it projects a certain sentimentalism about simpler,
more absolutist times. However, its power as a symbol fails to
convey feeling beyond simple nostalgia, and because of this its
use in landscaping has long since become cliché.
The old corner fountain had many problems on a functional level
as well. It had started rusting out several years past and was
now constantly malfunctioning. This was primarily because the
fountain pump had been installed underwater and had started to
rust out. The lighting fixtures had begun to rust out as well,
and the leakage that resulted caused them to intermittently
fail. There was also a problem of too much space between the
fountain walls and the brick wall around the home. Weeds and
excessive vegetation had overgrown the back of the fountain, and
they were beginning to overshadow a good portion of its
structure. The time had come for a significant change. We
therefore replaced not only the original corner fountain, but we
also developed an entirely new
fountain design.
The new structure was shaped like rectangle whose right angles
closely mirrored those of the wall behind it. The vertical walls
of new fountain itself were made to slope upward on either side
in a slight, inverted arc that leveled off at the top and
intersected in the corner. To create a decorative color
contrast, we covered most of the bricks in the front, as well as
the limestone walls in the back, with a travertine coping. This
gave the entire structure a soft cream color that proved a
perfect complement to the red brick of the wall.
Then, on both vertical walls, we installed three water spouts
each and installed new fountain lights to illuminate the water
from below as it fell into the basin. To add to the mystique of
this experience, we also fitted the new corner fountain with a
remote pump and an external filtration system that allowed it to
run silently, leaving only the water itself to be heard. This
also had the practical benefit of preserving the pump itself
from the rust that had destroyed the original one.
Of course, right angles create very sharp focal points that can
often clash with other elements of a landscape. In order to
alleviate this and create a sense of harmony and blended
aesthetic, we planted several new types of vegetation around our
corner fountain. We used dwarf monkey grass and Ardesia to
create ground cover. Both species do very well in shady areas,
and Ardesia also offers the added benefit of erosion control and
a nice green color to further compliment the colors of the wall
and the fountain. To add an enhanced vertical element to the
scene, we planted a Japanese maple beside the corner fountain.
This is a wonderful tree to use in landscaping because it
provides both ideal proportions and color. It has burgundy
leaves that provide a great deal of shade, but it never gets too
tall.
Because this property was so large, it was actually landscaped
with two separate patio areas in the yard. Since each patio
faced either one side of the corner fountain or the other, the
illuminated waterspouts dancing against a limestone backdrop
became the natural focal point that drew the eye toward itself
as the center of attention regardless of one’s position in the
yard.
If you are interested in
renovating a water fountain or a
River Oak landscaping project,
Exterior Worlds has
been providing the high-end residential landscape services and
garden design services discussed above for the Houston and the
surrounding areas including memorial villages (Piney Point
Village, Bunker Hill Village, Hunter Creek Village), Tanglewood,
River Oaks, West University and the greater Houston (Hou), area
since 1987. Contact us at 713-827-2255
For more the 20 years
Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's
fine neighborhoods.
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