Fountains in heritage settings

Fountains in heritage settings

Protection of authenticity, moisture control, facility placement and design with minimal intervention

Water is a part of the architectural organization in many historical spaces; It defines the direction of movement, reflects the image of the building and gives the yard or garden an auditory quality. In such an environment, changing the shape of water movement or adding new equipment can affect the readability and historical experience of the place.

Designing a fountain in a historical context begins with knowing the place: what is valuable, what are the evidences of the past, and what changes are necessary to continue using the space?

This chapter examines two related issues: the restoration and improvement of an existing historic fountain and the addition of a new fountain adjacent to an architectural heritage. The calculations provided are educational and do not represent the specifications of an actual project or GSO product.

55–1. Determine the type of intervention

Before preparing the plan, the nature of the work should be clarified.

This separation should be reflected in the project title and service description. Building a new fountain with an old look isn't a "renovation" per se.

Also, the silence of a historical pond does not necessarily mean that it needs to be started. Material protection, water limitations, or lack of sufficient evidence may justify a different decision.

55–2. Originality and harmony with the environment

The Venice Charter emphasizes respecting historical evidence and avoiding speculative reconstructions. This charter also suggests the coordination of the replacement parts with the set and their distinguishable from the original parts. Charter of Venice, ICOMUS ^[353]

For fountain design, these principles translate into several practical decisions:

• The historical shape of the pond should be determined based on documentary evidence.

• New parts can be identified in the map and restoration file.

• Display equipment should not disturb the view of the important elements of the building.

• The method of collecting or replacing the equipment should be clear from the beginning.

These documents are the reference of protection thought; They do not replace the criteria and approvals of the authority responsible for the same project.

55–3. Pre-design documentation

The identification file should record the current situation in such a way that comparison after implementation is possible.

The age of the information and the level of confidence in them must be known. An old picture may show the location of the fountain, but not enough to accurately determine its height or flow.

Recording the dry and clear state of the fountain, if possible and permitted, provides different information. A pre-commissioning stain should not be attributed to new equipment later without investigation.

55–4. What is under the surface of the site?

Excavation for pipe, tank or cable may reach layers that are not recorded on the building facility plan.

Historic England's guide on water features in the historic environment emphasizes the potential value of sediments and archaeological layers and the necessity of expert involvement from the pre-planning stage. A guide to investigating water elements in the historical environment ^[354]

In the implementation plan, the proposed routes should be adapted to the known condition of the site. For unknown points, the investigation plan and how to react to the discovery of works should be predicted.

Using an existing utility route can be an option, but the existence of a previous route does not in itself authorize widening or demolition around it. Sometimes moving the engine room to a service area further away creates less intervention than building a new room next to the pond.

55–5. Water, salt and historical materials

In the vicinity of the historical monument, the path of water reaching the materials should be checked:

• direct spraying of the fountain;

• transfer of droplets with wind;

• pool or pipe leakage;

• Improper overflow;

• washing the area;

• Changing the drainage route.

Historic England explains that moisture migration and salt crystallization can cause surface damage to building materials, particularly where drying is restricted. The actual behavior depends on the type of materials and their conditions. Moisture and salt in historical building materials ^[355]

Consequently, the solution should not be simply to cover the stain or add a waterproof layer. The source of moisture, the route of transmission and the compatibility of the repair method should be investigated.

For a sensitive wall or floor, a monitoring map should be prepared that specifies observation points, base photos, and information recording conditions.

55–6. Choosing the shape of water movement

In the new design, the greater height of the fountain does not necessarily create more spatial quality. Proportion with yard scale, visual axis, ambient sound and distance from sensitive materials is important.

Three options can be compared at the conceptual stage:

For an existing historical fountain, the form of water movement should be as evidence-based as possible. For the new fountain, the design can be contemporary, provided that its place and effect in the collection is examined.

Temporary prototyping allows evaluation of height, noise and splash before equipment is stabilized. The place and method of sampling should also be compatible with the protection of the site.

55–7. Placement of equipment and the possibility of collection

The ability to open the equipment is one of the design criteria, but it alone does not mean that the intervention is ineffective. A portable stand may also cause undue weight, smudges or wear.

For each component, record this information:

• place of support or connection;

• weight and contact surface;

• Type of contact with existing materials;

• cable and pipe passage;

• service and collection method;

• Surface condition after collection.

Hidden facilities should also be accessible. Placing a repairable joint under historical bedrock, without provision for access, can turn any future repair into a new intervention.

In the educational example of this chapter, it is assumed that a new and independent circuit is designed in a part of the area with new flooring. No bearing capacity or the possibility of connecting to historical materials is presupposed.

55–8. hydraulic example; Comparison of two pipe routes

For the hypothetical circuit, two paths are considered:

• Route A: 20 meters long;

• Route B: 40 meters long, with the possibility of passing through an area that requires less intervention after investigation.

This comparison does not mean that a shorter path is allowed; The goal is to determine the hydraulic cost of increasing the length.

Hypothetical data:

Conversion rate:

$Q=\frac{6}{3600}=0.001667m^3/s$

Average speed:

$v=\frac{Q}{\pi D^2/4}$

$v\approx 1.33m/s$

Straight pipe friction loss:

$h_f=f\frac{L}{D}\frac{v^2}{2g}$

For path A:

$h_{f,A}\approx 1.12m$

For route B:

$h_{f,B}\approx 2.24m$

Therefore, the increase in drop caused by the additional 20 meters of pipe:

$\Delta h_f\approx 1.12m$

The coefficient of friction is assumed in this example. In actual design, it should be determined from fluid characteristics, roughness and flow conditions. The difference in the number of knees and taps is also calculated separately.

55–9. The effect of longer distance on power and energy

Assume other head components are equal in both options:

Head total of two routes:

$H_A=4.5+1.12=5.62m$

$H_B=4.5+2.24=6.74m$

Assuming a total return of 45%:

$P=\frac{\rho gQH}{\eta }$

Approximate results:

The power difference is about 41 watts.

For 8 hours of daily work and 240 days a year:

$\Delta E\approx 0.0407\times 8\times 240$

$\Delta E\approx 78kWh/year$

This calculation shows that in this example, the energy consequence of the longer path can be clearly included in the decision. The result is not a general rule for all projects.

In the actual selection, pump curve, efficiency change, installation and maintenance cost should be checked. An option that is not acceptable from the point of view of protection is not justified by the lower power consumption.

55–10. Sealing and old lines

Reactivating the historic pool requires checking the body, seams, outlets and previous repairs. Implementing a general sealing coating without knowing the materials is not a generalizable version.

For old lines, it should also be specified:

• Is their path and sex known or not?

• What parts can be inspected;

• What kind of pressure have they worked before?

• They are to be preserved, documented and out-of-circuit, or reused.

New network test pressure should not be applied to historical components without evaluation. The test method should be developed according to the situation of the collection.

OASE introduces the assessment of the existing conditions as the starting point in water fountain improvement services. In the heritage environment, this technical assessment should be carried out in conjunction with a conservation assessment. Fountain maintenance and improvement services in OASE ^[356]

55–11. Example of tracking; A drop in water level is not necessarily a leak

Let's assume that in a new test pond with a surface of 12 square meters, the water level will drop by 3 mm during shutdown and without compensating water.

Reduced volume:

$\Delta V=A\Delta h$

$\Delta V=12\times 0.003=0.036m^3$

That is 36 liters.

If the evaporation of the same interval is assumed to be 2 mm:

$V_E=12\times 0.002=0.024m^3$

Appearance difference:

$V_{\mathrm{باقی‌مانده}}=36-24=12L$

But this number is still not a proven leakage rate.

If the error of each surface reading is at most plus or minus 0.5 mm, the error of the difference between the two readings in the worst case can reach 1 mm:

$12\times 0.001=0.012m^3=12L$

So, the remaining value is equal to the measurement error range; The uncertainty of the evaporation estimate has not yet been added.

Leak detection should be based on proper measurement, isolation of circuit sections and additional evidence. This example is not a tentative dewatering order for a historically vulnerable pond.

55–12. Water quality and cleanliness

The treatment plan should cover both the need for exploitation and compatibility with the materials.

In the project specifications, the quality of the source, the materials used, the measurement method and the discharge route should be recorded. Washing water or draining the circuit should not be directed to the foot of the wall, historic garden or old path without checking.

The cleaning of new equipment should be separated from the preservation of the historic surface. A detergent suitable for metal nozzles is not necessarily suitable for stone, tile, caulking or historic paint.

In Historic England's guide to historic tiles, a distinction is made between more durable types and old, porous or brittle tiles. Therefore, the cleaning method should be based on the knowledge of the same level and the limited test to be approved. Considerations for cleaning historical tiles ^[357]

55–13. Light, sound and readability of the building

The night design should be considered together with the day view. The location of the lamp, cable, base and valve may affect the appearance of the area more than the light itself.

In the lighting evaluation, the following items should be recorded:

• Visibility to the main view and important details;

• Light reflection on the water surface;

• Glare on the way to visit;

• The effect of light color on the perception of materials;

• Possibility of service without damage to existing components.

For the sound, the listening points should be specified: next to the fountain, the entrance of the building, the place where the guide explains, and nearby quiet spaces.

As a design suggestion, it is possible to define daily quiet mode and event mode separately. The permissibility of each mode should be checked in the user framework and management program of the same location.

55–14. Using the experience of international companies

Global projects are useful for knowing the cooperation method and technical possibilities, but the result of a project cannot be transferred to another place without knowing the conditions.

In its introduction, Crystal Fountains cites involvement in the Longwood Gardens and Palace of Versailles projects. This record shows the presence of contemporary technology in projects related to the historical environment; Intervention details and acceptance criteria should be extracted from the specific documents of each project. Records of Crystal Fountains projects ^[358]

To present Iranian examples, it is better to introduce each project of the company's archive with specific information: type of intervention, date, location restrictions, role of the company and implemented solution. A beautiful photo alone is not proof of the quality of restoration.

55–15. Delivery and monitoring after implementation

The project delivery should cover both the performance of the fountain and the condition of the surrounding environment.

The monitoring plan should specify who is responsible, when and how to react to changes. An increase in humidity or a change in the appearance of materials requires investigating the cause; It is not enough to continue working just because the pump is healthy.

For sensitive settings such as fountain height and light range, the delivered quantity should be recorded so that subsequent changes can be tracked.

55–16. Suggested images for layout

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 55-1: Fountain and view axis of the historical monument

From the GSO archive, if there is a documentary project, select an image that shows the relationship between the pond, the visit route and the main view. The type of intervention should be mentioned in the subtitle.

*Subtitle:* "Evaluation of the fountain in relation to the scale and axes of view of the historical environment."

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 2–55: A map of cognition and trauma

On a simple impression, materials, cracks, moisture spots, previous repairs and known installation routes are marked.

*Subtitle:* "Recording the status of the basis, prerequisite for comparison and monitoring after implementation."

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 55–3: Comparison of two pipe routes

20 and 40 meter routes, for example, should be displayed with different colors. The sensitive area and the alternative route should be clear and the words "educational schematic" should be inserted.

*Subtitle:* "Comparison of the effect of increasing the length of the pipe on the pump head, along with the amount of intervention in the area."

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 4–55: Expandable installation detail

A specific detail, suitable for the materials and conditions of the project, should be drawn for the base or support of the equipment. Contact surface, cable route and opening method should be clear.

*Subtitle:* "Serviceability and collection should be visible in installation details."

The final file should clarify what was retained, what was changed, what was the reason for the change, and how the performance of the collection will be monitored. This information enables responsible maintenance of the fountain for subsequent managers and professionals.