Commercial centre fountain case study

Commercial centre fountain case study

A review of the musical fountain of the Iranian-Islamic Grand Bazaar of Andisheh and a comparison with Singapore's Jewel collection

A fountain in a commercial center can be a part of the architectural identity, meeting place and entertainment program of the complex. Its value is revealed when it is in harmony with the path of people's movement, the pause space, the activity of business units and the ability to maintain the complex.

A case study should show what was built, what design decisions were important, and what results can be supported by evidence. A photo of a beautiful display alone does not provide enough information about the energy consumption, quality of operation or economic effect of the project.

In this season, the musical fountain of the large Iranian-Islamic bazaar of Andisheh is the main example of the projects introduced on the GSO website. Published project information is separated from educational analysis and evaluation proposals. For an international comparison, the Rain Vortex fountain in Singapore's Jewel business, leisure and airport complex is examined.

48–1. Introduction of Andisheh project

The large Iranian-Islamic bazaar of Andisheh is a suitable example for investigating the role of a fountain in a commercial complex; Because in the introduction of GSO projects, both the musical fountain of the complex and the rhythmic fountain of its eastern entrance are recorded.

The following information is based on GSO public pages and is not a substitute for as-built drawings or delivery reports.

Sources: Andisheh project details page ^[316], list of GSO projects ^[317].

There is a difference in the number of effects: the Persian introduction mentions 10 effects and the detail page mentions 11 effects. The final number must be reconciled with the project file before printing. Also, the term "250 LEDs" is not enough to determine the number of complete lights, their model and power.

48–2. Design problem in a business complex

The fountain of the commercial center faces several demands at the same time: it must be seen, it must be possible to watch, and it must be compatible with the daily activity of the complex.

To analyze the Andisheh project, three central questions are raised:

1. How does the fountain help to recognize and remember the collection? 2. What is the connection between the viewing and gathering place and the commuting route? 3. How does the display coordinate with the activity of stores, services and public space?

These questions are the framework of this chapter's analysis; The public documents reviewed did not provide a measured answer about the change in sales or visitor retention time.

The presence of an entrance fountain and a musical fountain in the introduction of the projects allows the consideration of two different roles: the sign of entry and the place to watch the show. Proving that these two roles were the official design strategy from the beginning requires service descriptions and design documents.

48–3. Positioning analysis and pond form

48-3-1. drawn geometry

Based on the announced dimensions, the ratio of length to width of the pond is equal to five:

$\frac{40}{8}=5$

The area of the corresponding rectangle is also equal to:

$A=40\times 8=320m^2$

This value is the geometric area resulting from the stated dimensions; The depth of the water, the volume of exploitation and the actual area of ​​the wetting are not obtained from it.

By design, the elongated form allows for movement along the length, sequencing of effects, and viewing of the show from multiple points. On the other hand, the large distance between the two ends can make the integration of vision and sound coordination an important issue.

48-3-2. Spectator stand

To evaluate such a project, the architectural plan should clarify three areas:

This separation does not mean the requirement to use the fence in all projects; The shape of the demarcation should be derived from the design, type of use and safety assessment.

To complete the study of Andisheh, a location map with movement paths and main viewing points, from several close-up photos of the nozzles, will provide more information about the spatial performance of the project.

48–4. Analysis of equipment and mechanical circuits

1-4-48. What does the equipment count indicate?

The number of nozzles and pumps shows part of the scale of the project; But in order to understand the performance, the relationship between them must be clear.

For example, you cannot divide the number of nozzles by the number of pumps and conclude that each pump feeds the same number of nozzles. Demonstration groups may have different flow rates, pressures and control methods.

The technical file of the project should record this information for each circuit:

48-4-2. Information that is not known from public sources

The height of discharge, curves of pumps, power of each motor, depth of water and complete treatment specifications are not adequately presented in the sources reviewed for this chapter. Therefore, this chapter does not include an estimated number for them as the actual project specification.

The rated power of the motor is not equivalent to the measured consumption of the entire fountain. In order to evaluate energy, the lighting pattern of circuits, real load, light, sound, control and purification should be considered.

A proper usage report can record consumption in three separate states: full display, everyday mode, and water saving mode when the display is off.

48–5. Light, music and direction of the show

In the musical fountain, the variety of equipment must be translated into an understandable sequence. Too many outputs, without proper adjustment, may create a cluttered image.

For the artistic analysis of this project, it is suggested to examine each program from four perspectives:

• The relationship between the movement of water and the structure of music;

• Changing the intensity and color of light;

• Distribution of effects along the pond;

• The quality of the beginning, peak and end of the show.

In a printed study, it is better to present several frames from a given program, along with their relative timing. This method shows how the show evolves; A collection of unrelated photos does not provide such information.

48-5-1. Compatibility of the display with the business environment

In a commercial center, the execution plan should be coordinated with the operating hours, events and conditions of the adjacent units.

The following table is a suggested template and is not considered the actual program of the Andisheh project:

In sound evaluation, not only the location of the audience is important; The listening situation at the entrance of the stores, the sitting area and the workplace of the employees should also be checked.

48–6. Eastern entrance fountain; Supplementary sample

In the Persian introduction of GSO, the fountain at the eastern entrance of Andisheh Bazaar is introduced as a rhythmic project with five effects. Introduction of Bazar Andisheh projects on GSO website

This complementary example raises an important question for the design of commercial centers: should all fountains in a complex have the same role?

From an analytical point of view, the entrance fountain can play a role in introducing the threshold of the collection and identifying the entry point; While the show fountain is designed for a longer pause and viewing of the program.

To measure this difference in the actual project, the exact location, the movement pattern of the people and the operation plan of both fountains should be put together. The mere presence of two water fountains does not prove the coordination of their functions.

48–7. Challenges that can be investigated in the project file

Public sources do not provide detailed accounts of build-time challenges and solutions adopted. The table below is the suggested topics for interviewing the project team and completing the case study.

In the final writing, the answers should be connected to the specific decision; For example, "change the access point to shorten the service time" is more useful than the general phrase "fix performance problems".

48–8. Operation and maintenance in the commercial center

A commercial fountain is part of the daily activity environment. Its failure, service or stoppage must be coordinated with the collection management.

For this study, usability evaluation can focus on five issues:

1. Availability of the show in scheduled hours; 2. Duration and cause of unwanted stops; 3. Water and electricity consumption in different modes; 4. Time required for cleaning and replacing parts; 5. Complaints and registered requests of visitors and business units.

The accessibility index can be defined as follows:

$\mathrm{دسترس‌پذیری\; نمایش}=\frac{\mathrm{زمان\; اجرای\; قابل\; قبول}}{\mathrm{زمان\; اجرای\; برنامه‌ریزی‌شده}}\times 100$

Before calculating, it should be clear how planned stoppage, weather restriction and incomplete execution are classified. Without the same definition, comparing months or projects will not be valid.

The topics of water quality, safety and service methods are explained in the specialized chapters of the book; In the case study, evidence of the implementation of those programs should be presented.

48–9. commercial and social effect; What can be claimed?

The fountain may contribute to the attractiveness of the visit, the pause and the formation of the mental image of the collection; But the amount of this effect must be measured.

In the sources reviewed for the Andisheh project, there was insufficient data available on sales growth, rental growth, number of referrals, or formal satisfaction. Therefore, attributing a certain percentage of the economic success of the complex to the fountain is not documented.

48-9-1. Suggested evaluation indicators

The comparison should also take into account the effect of holidays, seasons, promotions, changes in store mix and other events. An increase in sales in a period alone does not prove a cause and effect relationship with the fountain.

Also, the interests of the owner and the tenant are not the same. The increase in sales of a store does not necessarily generate the same amount of direct income for the mall owner.

48–10. International comparison: Rain Vortex at Jewel Singapore

Jewel is a complex with shopping, dining, entertainment, indoor garden and airport services. The Rain Vortex fountain is at the center of its spatial experience.

Sources: Project introduction by Safdie Architects ^[318], Rain Vortex official page ^[319].

The purpose of the comparison is to investigate the relationship between the fountain and the commercial space. Jewel's scale, climate, budget and infrastructure are different from an urban market and its specifications should not be directly transferred to other projects.

48-10-1. A fountain in addition to income-generating activities

Jewel Management introduces event and reception spaces overlooking the Rain Vortex. This example shows how a view of a fountain can be used to define the experience of a rentable space. However, the introduction information of these spaces does not specify the amount of income attributed to the fountain. Jewel event spaces ^[320]

For other commercial centers, the lesson that can be explored is that the seating, reception and event areas should be coordinated with the quality of the view from the beginning of the design.

48-10-2. Correct interpretation of success statistics

According to the official announcement published in January 2025, Jewel will have more than 80 million registered visitors in 2024, and the annual growth of its visitors and sales will be 10% and 5%, respectively. This statistic is related to the entire collection, the number of individuals is not considered unique, and it does not show the independent share of the fountain. Official Jewel performance report in 2024 ^[321]

The same precision is required for the report of the Andisheh project: the indicators of the entire collection must be separated from the measured effect of the fountain.

48–11. Design lessons for similar projects

Based on the available information and the analysis of this chapter, the following topics can be used for the design of the commercial center fountain:

These items are educational impressions from the study and should not be quoted as a definitive list of actions taken in the Andisheh project.

48–12. Suggested pictures of the season

For a case study, actual project images have the most documentary value. AI generated image can only be used as "conceptual visualization" or "educational schematic".

"Before" and "after" photos should be chosen from the same angle. The date of the photo, the name of the photographer and the source of the archive should also be recorded in the layout file.

48–13. Completing the file before final printing

To convert this public source study into a full GSO project report, the following must be completed from the technical and operational archives:

• Fixing the difference in the number of effects;

• Verification of the employer's official title and scope of GSO services;

• Construction map, depth and exploitation volume;

• Effects height, pump model and equipment power;

• Detailed specifications of lights, control and purification;

• Commencement, commissioning and delivery dates;

• Real challenges and documented decisions of the implementation team;

• Status and results of operation in a certain period of time;

• Employer's satisfaction or statement, if there is a publishable document.

Until the completion of these documents, the specifications announced on the site must be published with the same title and the economic result or the employer's satisfaction cannot be definitively attributed to the project.

Special applications and conditions