There is nothing quite like sitting in the garden watching a tranquil water feature to leave you feeling languidly insouciant. Even after a bad day at work, simply watching and listening to the water flow is certain to improve your mood. However, the best thing when it comes to water elements is that you don't need an enormous garden, as they can be as large or as small as your garden demands.
"Water features vary tremendously in both scale and design," says Rowena West, senior associate for Cracknell Landscape, Planning & Urban Design Consultancy. "They can be as simple as a ceramic bowl overflowing with water, or an all-singing, all-dancing jet arrangement that people can run through and get wet in! They can be off the shelf items or custom designs with light and sound coordination. The context, user and budget are all important factors that have to be considered when deciding on the type of water feature you want, so that it can be aesthetically pleasing and sit well within the landscape."
According to Nehme J Moujaess, partner and managing director, Terraverde, water features can transform and create a positive impact in any garden. "A water feature can be a focal point in your garden or an accent and will always bring the space to life, as water brings movement and sound. It can be designed to fit in any available space, as long as it is professionally planned and built to serve the requirement."
Even if you have a rather bijou area or are an apartment-dweller with no garden at all and just a balcony, Moujaess says, "A water feature in a limited space can be installed using part of the structural walls or columns. By having water flowing on the existing structure you limit the diameter of space needed as a surround. Other options that incorporate free-falling water require a basin and will need an adequate area to catch splashing water."
While you may have to play around with the options that are suitable for your outside space, the benefits are vast. "Adding a water feature will have an impact on the overall landscaping by bringing together the different elements that make an attractive garden," says Moujaess. "It can provide an appealing backdrop for entertaining and relaxing outdoors. The sound of water is soothing and calming, and can also suppress unwelcome noises. Water features add a sense of tranquillity to the modern courtyard or garden."
West says water features can be placed in a garden or on a balcony for different purposes, whether to directly interact with or to add a new dimension to your surroundings. "It could also be for fish [and temperature-regulated] or for birds," she says. "How water interacts with light and colour is fascinating; colours change, images distort, it reflects. These features can also be used to create intrigue with the sound of water around a corner or changes in flow or jet heights. Water is precious but it can also be magical!"
Aquascape Inc www.aquascapeinc.com, Terraverde www.terraverde.ae
