The soothing sound... of flowing water

Water features add interest and a calming effect to the garden.

With the hectic pace of life in Dubai, people have little time for garden maintenance, even though they desire beautiful landscapes where they can spend their precious leisure time.

Contemporary outdoor water features afford a convenient solution. They are aesthetically pleasing while being relatively low maintenance. Whether it's a striking waterfall or a tranquil pond, water can work its charms on any garden, providing an elegant focal point.

In addition to the visual impact of a beautiful feature the added value of the sound of flowing water has a soothing effect which can help one relax after a frenzied day at work in the city.

While moving water provides delightful background music and masks the noise of traffic, the water feature can also be used to conceal landscape problems. It is hardly surprising that in the landscaping business, worth approximately $11 billion in United States alone, that water features is the fastest growing segment of this industry.

Just as fashion changes, so do landscape design trends and water features, with many different styles en vogue. Many pool designers are now fusing fire and water in their building themes. Fire, or tiki torches around the pool area can add dramatic effects to the poolside atmosphere.

Living in such proximity to a desert one great idea is to add sand to a gas-powered fire bowl. This enables the colour of the flames to change thus enhancing the mood of the setting. Another popular choice is infinity edged pools, where water flows over one or more sides of the pool into a catch basin and is then re-circulated back into the pool.

Since the edge of the pool seems to disappear, this type of pool is perfect for gardens with scenic vistas. An infinity edge adds an exciting visual element by presenting a reflection of the surrounding area in the surface of the pool.

To complete the infinity pool, many landscape artists choose glass tile, which comes in a rainbow of colours and can be used to create stunning custom mosaics.

Fountains and rock waterfalls are also an effective way to establish the mood around the pool. Pool fountains create a sound shield for the pool while assisting in keeping it clean. Foaming fountains mix water and air for a frothy, mushroom-head effect. Rock waterfalls come in many shapes and configurations and can offer elaborate results.

Gardeners who wish to be environmentally friendly may wish to use ‘disappearing' water features, where a fountain or waterfall is pumped up through a feature, runs down and disappears into the ground and through a filter/pump system to start over again.

These can be as simple as a small urn in a garden where water comes up through and overflows back into some gravel, or as elaborate as a huge cascading waterfall.

Another advantage of disappearing water features is their low maintenance as there are no open bodies of water to collect algae or debris, and there are no life forms present to create waste.

Choosing the right feature

One downside of water features is their expense. They can vary from Dh1,500 per square metre to Dh6,000 per square metre, inclusive of lighting, water treatment equipment and circulation pumps, and if the selection at the early stage of the process is not done properly, it can turn into a wasted investment that can haunt the owner. So how can a homeowner choose a suitable water feature for their garden?

The water feature can be the centre highlight or have a supporting role in the garden but its size should be compatible and proportional to the area surrounding it. The architectural details and finishes should be done using the skills of a qualified landscape architect who knows how to fit into the garden the feature with the right shape, in the right place and with the right finishes that match the surroundings.

The most efficient water features, in terms of affordable long-term maintenance, are those of shallow depth not exceeding 30 to 40 centimetres and where the circulation and filtration equipment turns the water volume in four hours.

To install the feature, hire a qualified contractor with previous experience and demand the warranties and guarantees that will ensure the proper function of the feature for at least two years from the day commissioning is done without any liability to the owner.

One of the most popular landscaping trends is the integration of plants into the water feature. It may be possible to select plant species from your native country as a sign of attachment to that place and incorporate them into the design of the feature. While enhancing and personalising the feature, this aspect will provide interest and comfort to the garden and its owner.

— With valuable inputs from Jenny Joseph at Jenny's flowers, Labib Boutros at Al Bayader Irrigation and Vishal Lakhani at Stone Gallery.