Ornamental pool

An ornamental pool is a water feature made to be looked at and listened to, not swum in. It may be a still reflecting pool, a pool with fountains, a cascade falling from a wall or a natural-looking pond with plants and fish. Water brings movement, sound and light to a garden, and in summer heat it noticeably cools the air around it.

Design and construction

A reflecting pool needs a mirror-like surface, which means a perfectly level edge, an overflow channel and continuous circulation. A dark base strengthens the reflection. Fountains and cascades need pumps, filters and a plant room or a buried pump chamber planned from the start. Concrete pools are waterproofed with a membrane or lining, and ponds with a flexible liner. Safety matters, particularly where children are around; depth should be limited and the edge detailed accordingly. Algae and upkeep have to be part of the design from day one.

Water in visualization

In a render, water is a demanding material because reflection and refraction must work together. The reflection of the building and the sky in a still pool, or a moving surface around a fountain, brings the scene to life. For outdoor projects with water features, take a look at our landscape visualization service.