How to design a fountain

Water is an essential element to sustain life. After all, the choice of land as a natural habitat for life was essentially due to the presence of water in its atmosphere. Therefore, it is obvious that throughout history, proximity to water sources has defined the patterns of human settlements, as well as their social, agricultural and commercial activities.

Thus, when humans began to build cities, water sources, wells, and fountains became an indispensable feature of their public and private spaces. In ancient cities such as Pompeii, the primary purpose of fountains was to provide a practical reservoir of water. Realizing the visceral aesthetics of wells and water fountains, city authorities later increasingly focused on installing elaborate water features to display prosperity, culture, power, political triumphs, etc.

Guidelines for designing a square with a fountain

When designing an urban fountain, there are many things to consider, from the purpose for which the fountain is needed, to the context of its location, to the materials and its artistic and cultural values.

We will look in detail at the following aspects of designing a public fountain:
  
• How to design a fountain in a square?
• Positioning of the fountain in the square
• What shape should the fountain have?
• The urban context in which to place the fountain
• The choice of materials: classic or modern?
   
However you approach the design of a fountain, contemporary design responsibilities require that the project reflect the current cultural values ​​of communities. Considering the important socio-cultural role of water, a fountain in a public space should also contribute to the well-being of modern urban life.

How to design a fountain in a square?

Before you get busy with paper, pencil and computer to design a fountain, there are a number of important factors that need to be considered thoroughly. You should start by understanding the purpose of the fountain: is it just a decorative element? To provide drinking water? Is there some message to be communicated in symbolic form? Understanding the purpose is the key to delivering a satisfactory fountain design.

It may not be necessary to follow strict theoretical guidelines, but the fountain must be aligned with the city's urban planning and guidelines for installation and water features. Technical features such as pump placement, fresh water supply, power cable routing for both recirculation and night lighting, all must be considered when designing a public water feature.

Positioning of the fountain in the square

A fountain can be a focal point or it can be something to complete or divide the space. In order for a public fountain to fulfill all its purposes, it must be positioned in a way that is practical, aesthetically pleasing and safe. Fortunately, there are some basic rules for placing a fountain in a square.

To begin with, a fountain should not be placed under trees to save water from fallen leaves, birds and insects. The system should also be equipped with frost protection and should not be exposed to strong winds. The height of the water main and the depth of the basin are other important placement considerations; as most public fountain basins should be no more than 45 cm deep.

What shape should the fountain have?

The design options for public fountains are so numerous that there are virtually no limits to the imagination of designers. However, the most commonly seen fountains can be grouped into three main categories.

The first is the installation where water plays a dominant role with the sculptural and practical elements such as street furniture designed to complement it. The second category is where the opposite happens: the structural elements of street furniture play a leading role and the water is integrated to complement it. In the third category both elements merge, each playing a supporting role to the other to reinforce each other in a unique design.

You can design a suspended, decorative, sequential or musical fountain. There are also fountains in the form of waterfalls, streams and canals, etc.

The urban context in which to place the fountain

Considering how each water feature displays the optical and acoustic characteristics of an environment, the designer must also consider the climate, environment, size, type of visitors, nature of the effect required, maximum acceptable noise level and the required standard of cleanliness.

For example, Rathbone Square in London It is located in a busy commercial area and the presence of water serves to offer shoppers a respite from the chaos.

In designing the square, Gustafson Porter + Bowman They focused on how water could be used in conjunction with the trees and green spaces that are central to this area. Therefore, they created two bodies of water that reflect the trees and plants in the square. The flow of water that goes over the edge of the pools gives this space a sense of movement as it distorts the reflections.

The two bodies of water, at either end of the square, are visually connected by channels. These shallow streams meander through the space, providing a tranquil route through a hub of urban life. The theme of combining water and greenery within the space is further continued here as these streams are set directly into the many plantings that define the square. The combination of water and greenery builds on the overall theme of life and brings together the various elements that make up the Rathbone Square area.

Another example is the fountain designed by Richard Meier for the Ara Pacis in Rome. Here the problem to be solved was to create a rest area for visitors that was quiet and isolated from the traffic noise of the Lungotevere. The solution created consists of a long and thick wall that acts as a soundproof barrier and from which a waterfall descends that with the noise it produces cancels out that of the traffic. To obtain this effect there is also the contribution of several vertical jets that falling on the water surface contribute to the creation of a relaxing atmosphere.

The choice of materials: classic or modern?

The first fountains, as in ancient Rome, were built primarily to provide water for drinking and washing. By the end of the 19th century, however, it began to become more decorative. A century later, gravitational forces were also replaced with steam pumps and, later, electric pumps.

However, a contemporary fountain can be made based on both classic and modern techniques. If the water source is located in a mountaineering area or at high altitude, the gravitational force can be used for an eco-friendly fountain project.

In modern fountains, however, a water recirculation system is the norm, with the addition of a water tank, pumps, nozzles, filtration devices, lighting and music systems, etc.

The most common structural materials include cast stone (marble and granite), ceramic, fiberglass, and metal.

Conclusions

Public fountains are multidimensional water features that satisfy a myriad of stimuli. They are mostly decorative but require to be designed with both aesthetic and technical features.