Why urban fountains matter

Why urban fountains matter

From the presence of water in the public space to the creation of identity and lasting value

1–1. Cities that are remembered

A city can be defined by its streets, buildings and infrastructure; But what remains in people's minds is often the experience of being in a place: a square that becomes a place for daily meetings, a park where families spend their evenings, or a space where watching the movement of water and light make passers-by stop for a few minutes.

A fountain can play a role in shaping such an experience. The movement of water, the change of shape of fountains, the reflection of light and the sound of the flow provide the designer with possibilities that cannot be obtained with fixed materials alone. These features allow the space to have different effects during the day, different seasons and different occasions.

However, the value of the fountain depends on the quality of its relationship with the environment. A tall fountain out of the reach of people, a water feature with an intrusive splash on the pedestrian path, or a complex that remains silent for a large part of the year, does not necessarily contribute to the improvement of the urban atmosphere. Success is formed when the project goal, architecture design, equipment engineering and operation method are in harmony with each other.

The initial question of every project should be clear: what value is this fountain going to create for this place and its users?

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 1–1, Chapter Opener: A high-quality landscape shot of one of GSO's urban projects at dusk; The fountain, surrounding architecture and the natural presence of people can be seen at the same time. Caption under the photo: "A fountain acquires meaning in connection with the surrounding space." Insert the name of the project, city and year of implementation after selecting the photo.

1–2. What is an urban fountain?

In this book, an urban fountain is a designed collection that uses water in the form of static, flowing, falling, splashing or demonstration in the public space or collective spaces of projects. Its purpose can be to enhance visual quality, create a sensory experience, shape a gathering place, display art, or provide controlled interaction with water.

This definition includes squares and parks, sidewalks, commercial centers, tourist complexes and common spaces of large buildings. Therefore, the subject of the book is not limited to fountains in the squares and includes a range from reflecting pools and waterways to musical fountains and dry floors.

In order to know each fountain accurately, three aspects must be examined at the same time:

• Form and installation: pond, dry floor, floating, wall or drop.

• Mode of performance: fixed, variable, rhythmic, musical or interactive.

• Type of use: spectacular, approachable or designed for water contact and play.

These divisions can be combined with each other; For example, a dry floor fountain may also be musical. Also, the fact that the nozzles are level with the floor alone does not mean that the fountain is suitable for children to play with; The type of user contact should be determined from the beginning of the design.

On the GSO website, urban fountains are presented in musical, rhythmic, dry, floating and classical groups, and their equipment includes nozzles, pumps, lighting and control systems. This category is a good starting point to get to know the main families of the company's projects. Source: GSO urban fountains ^[1]

1–3. Water in Iranian culture and architecture

For Iranian architecture, the presence of water has a deep history. In introducing the "Iranian Garden" to the UNESCO World Heritage List, water plays an essential role in both irrigation and beautification. This heritage complex also shows that garden design was linked to water management, engineering, architecture and vegetation selection. Source: UNESCO, Iranian Garden ^[2]

The design of this book draws attention to the relationship between water and the whole space. The length of the waterway can determine the direction of movement; The calm surface of the water can reflect the image of the building; And the change in level can become an opportunity to create water flow and sound.

The contemporary project can also be inspired by these relationships. The geometry of the garden, the proportions of the yard, the shade pattern, the texture of the materials and the way water moves can be the basis of the design. In this way, Iranian identity appears through the logic of space formation.

For a historical city, a calm and harmonious water feature with the scale of the square may be the right choice. In a contemporary entertainment complex, dynamic movement and light displays can be more consistent with the project's purpose. The choice between the two depends on the personality of the place and the expected experience.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Image 1–2: two images side by side; An Iranian garden with a distinct blue axis and a contemporary project with related geometry. Subtitle: "Inspiration from the heritage of water in Iranian architecture; From the organization of space to contemporary expression." For the historical image, archival photos with the right to use should be used.

1–4. How does a fountain help shape a place?

In order for the fountain to become a part of people's daily life, it must be possible to be present around it. Sitting place, shade, walking path, good visibility, easy access and comfortable distance from splashing water play a role in the quality of users' experience.

From this point of view, the design of the fountain and the area should be done together. The location of the audience affects the direction of the show; The route of passage affects the spraying range; And the placement of the benches should be coordinated with the sound, sunlight and view of the water.

A good example is the Al Liwan project in Bahrain. In the project description released by OASE, a central dry floor fountain links to a series of smaller fountains throughout the complex. The design has paid attention to the movement of visitors and the communication between spaces. Source: OASE, Al Liwan case study ^[3]

The design lesson of this example is the possibility of using water as a part of organizing the collection. A fountain can be a location, add character to an entrance, or create pauses along the path. Choosing these roles should be done before determining the number of nozzles and pump power.

1–5. The glory, identity and visual credibility of the city

A fountain has various possibilities to create an urban landmark: height, horizontal extension, reflection, movement, light and rhythm. The considered combination of these elements can create a distinctive image for a square, park or commercial complex.

Magnificence in design comes from proportion and coherence. A calm body of water in front of an important building, a wide waterfall along a difference in level, or a series of fountains aligned with the axis of the square, can each provide a different expression of the significance of the place.

For urban branding, the plan must be related to the characteristics of the city itself. The historical narrative, local culture, architecture, music or even the natural feature of the region can be the basis of this connection. Appropriate naming of the fountain and shows related to the events of the city can also complete this narrative.

The durability of such an image depends on the quality of performance. Cleanliness, coordination of lights, health of equipment and reliability of show time are part of the experience that citizens and tourists receive from the project. Therefore, the maintenance plan should be present in the project decisions from the design stage itself.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 1–3: Two photos of a GSO project at nearly the same angle, day and night. Subtitle: "Two manifestations of one place; The harmony of the fountain with the architecture of the day and the landscape of the night.

1–6. Fountains in commercial centers and tourist complexes

For the manager of a shopping center or tourist complex, a fountain can be part of the visitor experience design. A meeting place, a waiting area, a photography spot or a timed display are all applications that can be considered when planning a project.

Suppose a short show is performed in the premises of a commercial complex at certain hours. In this case, it is necessary to design the viewing space, passageway, access to commercial units and exit from the exhibition area. The attractiveness of the show is useful for the collection when it is compatible with its everyday function.

Increased traffic, dwell time, or sales are outcomes that should be measured. Without data, it is impossible to attribute a fixed percentage of sales growth or property value to the fountain installation. The location of the project, the combination of activities, the quality of access, advertising, season and simultaneous events also affect these results.

The proposal of this book is that for projects with a commercial purpose, evaluation indicators should be determined before implementation: the number of visitors, the duration of the stop, the amount of participation in the programs, the satisfaction of users and the cost of operation. Comparing similar periods and, if possible, a comparison range, helps to make a more accurate assessment.

In the economic chapter of the book, the method of designing this evaluation and calculating the life cycle cost will be examined in detail.

1–7. quality of experience; From watching to interacting

The fountain experience belongs to different groups of users. A person may stop to watch a show, another may sit by the water, and a family may be looking for a suitable space for children. The design should recognize these differences and provide a suitable place for them.

In this book, "viewing", "approaching" and "contact with water" are three different states of design. Each situation affects the placement of equipment, floor construction, spray control, water quality and operation method. This issue is examined in a specialized way in the chapter of interactive fountains.

The Crown Fountain in Chicago's Millennium Park is an example to study the connection between art and public space. In the introduction of the project by Crystal Fountains, the name of the artist Jaume Plensa and the role of the company in water design and production of registered equipment and the concept of public meeting place are present in the explanation of the work. Source: Crystal Fountains, Crown Fountain Project ^[4]

The take of this book from such an example is the importance of defining the relationship between people and the work. Before choosing the technology, it should be determined who will use the fountain, when and with what presence.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 1-4: Archival photo of people around one of the GSO fountains; The place of sitting, the passage and the distance of users from the water should be clear. If the image shows contact or playing with water, the selected project must be designed for the same user.

1–8. Fountain and responsibility in resource consumption

When deciding on an urban fountain, the amount of water and energy consumption should be clear and trackable. This is part of project management accountability for projects that use public resources.

In the recirculation system, water is collected and re-enters the circuit; However, fresh water will be required to compensate for evaporation, out-of-range spraying, washing, and necessary discharges. Therefore, the flow through the nozzles is not the same as the compensation water consumption.

The US Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense Guide considers water recirculation and attention to evaporation and leakage losses as consumption management measures in decorative fountains. These principles should be adapted to the design according to the conditions of each project. Source: EPA, Guide to Managing Water Use in Commercial and Institutional Facilities ^[5]

In this book, it is suggested to record the consumption of compensatory water and fountain electricity independently so that the user can recognize unusual changes. The operating schedule, display height and how to react to wind conditions should also be specified in the design and be coordinated with the purification and maintenance needs.

Any claims about ambient cooling should also be limited to the scale and conditions of the project. The amount of thermal effect depends on the climate, humidity, wind, radiation and the form of water movement and will be investigated in the relevant chapter with research sources and evaluation methods.

1–9. Behind every water effect, there is an engineering system

The viewer sees the movement of water and light; But this image is the result of the coordination of a set of components. Basin and tank, pump and pipe, nozzle and valve, lamp and cable, board and controller, purification and monitoring tools contribute to its formation and durability.

For example, changing the height of a fountain is not just a visual decision; The hydraulic requirement also changes the spray range and the behavior of the assembly in the wind. In addition to the light effect, the location of the lamp affects the accessibility for the service. The choice of floor covering is related to architecture, people's use and water collection at the same time.

A professional design method should check these connections before implementation. In describing its services, Crystal Fountains introduces collaboration between designers and engineers, simulation and prototype construction as tools for design feasibility studies. Source: Crystal Fountains, Fountain Design Services ^[6]

In this book's approach, design for operation is also part of engineering: the repairman must have access to the parts, the operator must understand the state of the system, and the client must know what resources are needed to maintain the quality of the project.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 5-1: Educational schematic cross-section of a pond fountain with a recirculation circuit; Pond, nozzle, display pump, purification circuit, compensating water, overflow and control panel should be specified. Title: "The main components of a fountain system". The plan should be published with the label "conceptual schematic" and the routes should be reviewed by the technical team before printing.

1–10. Defining success before starting the project

In order to convert the overall goals into operational decisions, it is suggested that the employer and the design team complete the objective table and project evaluation criteria before selecting the equipment.

This table is a suggested framework for the dialogue between the employer and the consultant. The final criteria and acceptable limits should be determined in the same project documents.

A successful fountain should be able to fulfill a clear purpose in real operating conditions. The definition of this goal will be the basis for choosing the fountain type, scale, equipment, budget and maintenance program.

1–11. How to use this book

This book starts with management and design questions and reaches calculations, implementation and exploitation. City managers and investors can refer to management departments to set goals, choose options, and evaluate costs. Architects and landscape designers will follow the topics of typology, placement and experience design. Engineers and operators also refer to hydraulic, electrical, control, treatment and maintenance chapters.

In the calculation chapters, each relationship will be presented along with the definition of variables, units, assumptions and scope of application. The numerical training examples will be specific from the real information of the projects, and the selection of equipment will be based on the technical data of the same product.

GSO examples are also introduced with photos, approved specifications, and project problem and solution descriptions so that the reader can follow the connection between the idea, the engineering decision, and the implementation result.

The related chapter deals with the social, sensory and environmental effects of the fountain: how the presence of water changes the experience of a space and what conditions are necessary to evaluate and enhance this effect.