Just as with species in the animal kingdom, architectural construction styles and techniques evolve over time, adapting to changes in the environment.
In the case of fountains, these evolutionary transitions have been both complex and
indicative of broader trends. Ancient wellsprings, for example, eventually gave way to decorative fountains with intricately carved stone sculptures. More recently, monolithic block, walled and stepped fountain forms have held sway. It's not much of a stretch to say that the latest significant "mutation" in this remarkable lineage is the dry-deck fountain: At a time when open space is at a premium and the public is being invited as never before to interact and participate in
the architectural landscape, dry-deck fountains may well be the ultimate utilitarian
medium and expression of the fountain designer's art.
These water shapes allow for efficient use of space (a dry-deck fountain by day, for example, can be a multi-use space by night), minimize tripping hazards and open blic sight lines-and thereby put surrounding landscape forms and features on display. And the technology and mechanisms that make them work are hidden, which takes what might be an eyesore and turns it into a vandal- and theft-resistant aesthetic plus.
Of all water shapes now being installed in public settings, dry-deck fountains are among of the most popular - and for good reason. Their simplicity of appearance, dynamic interactive quality, compelling accessibility and basic safety have all increased the demand for these displays, he says, noting that they've quickly gone from novelty status to become a dominant strain in the evolution of contemporary water features.
Keywords
way
day
art
time
case
night
demand
medium
changes
example
stretch
premium
display
eyesore
species
appearance
open space
technology
mechanisms
simplicity
techniques
expression
environment
good reason
water shapes
basic safety
efficient use
novelty status
fountain forms
animal kingdom
broader trends
multi-use space
public settings
dominant strain
monolithic block
stone sculptures
tripping hazards
dry-deck fountain
fountain designer
remarkable lineage
Ancient wellsprings
decorative fountains
ultimate utilitarian
open blic sight lines
architectural landscape
evolutionary transitions
compelling accessibility
theft-resistant aesthetic
contemporary water features
surrounding landscape forms
latest significant "mutation
architectural construction styles
