"Water quenches the excessive heat which would destroy life. Thus, water can be called the only everlasting source of continuous being."

~ Nicola Salvi, c.1732, designer and builder of the Trevi Fountain, Rome

Hundreds of years ago, bringing the family to the village plaza was part of the social events of the time. This was a time when families gathered at the plaza fountain to collect water for drinking, cooking and washing. Even today, fountains are the life spring of many communities throughout the world. From luxury homes to master planned communities to civic centers, fountains continue to serve as statements of the social stature as well as community art. "Water feature" is a very broad term applied to the numerous forms of ornamental water which adorn our world.

These "forms" of water evoke many different moods and emotional responses in people. Consider the wide contrast between a still reflection pond's tranquility and a high waterfall's torrential roar. This comparison does highlight a fundamental difference between two types of water features; "still" water versus "moving" water systems. The first category is typified by the lakes and ponds seen in parks, gardens, stately homes and golf courses (i.e. passive, calm basins). The second is where water's motion, in all its many presentations, is the principal display.

By definition, "moving water" features are dynamic but until the advent of "Interactive" and "Show" water features. The water display of fountains, did not vary with time. As an example, imposing and grandiose as the famous 1840 Maritime Fountain at the Place de la Concorde in Paris is, the spectacle of its jets and veils of falling water are constant.

It is this distinguishing facet that identifies and defines the most recent specialty group of water features, the Interactive and Show types. These types create variations in the look and motion of the elemental water itself and can entirely transform the feature's characteristics.

What has continued to amaze onlookers for over 500 years, regardless of the type of fountain created, are the hydraulic properties of the water (or for those without engineering degrees "how'd they do that?"). From the simplest found in an Egyptian courtyard to the most complex show fountain located at the entry to a 5-star luxury hotel, none of this would be possible if it were not for the engineering advancements by the founding forefathers of our industry.

The Paradise Fountain is operated by a single pump that controls the center geyser and 12 surrounding pop jets. The height of the center geyser is determined by a hidden show control panel which in turn operates a variable frequency drive.

Designers looked at how water could be manipulated through gravity, mechanical devices, and pumps. The first influential book was by French engineer and physicist Salomon de Caus, who was renowned throughout Europe for his ingenious water features. His pioneering Les Raisons des forces mouvantes (The Principles of Moving Forces, 1615) was long regarded as the fundamental text on hydraulics and aspects of fountain design.

Today, the art of fountain design and construction can be both complicated, as well as simple. No two fountains are ever the same and subtle differences are often evidenced from feature to feature. To the causal observer, there is little difference between the fountain at their local shopping mall and those once built in the "Old World" hundreds of years ago. However, one of the greatest challenges lies in designing the fountain, which will be remembered for its uniqueness and not soon forgotten.

The design process of fountains is often clouded with many issues including budgets, design intent and client expectations. At times our design limitations and the physical property of water seeking it's own level can be confusing. This brings us to the notion of contemporary "aquatectural" concepts.

While the term "aquatectural" is contrived, it does embody the sense of using water to compliment and emphasize a particular architectural theming. Examples of this would be where distinctly shaped water basins in urban spaces are used and incorporate show water elements. A strong symmetry of basins bisecting a plaza's walkways may very effectively make a striking first impression, even while the water bodies in the space are in a quiescent state. From a restful mode, such features can "awaken" and commence a series of slow character changes where, for example, water mysteriously disappears into long serpentine flumes and deep circular troughs within the basins. Clouds of mist may begin emanating from the depressions and swirl across the water surfaces. Circular or rectilinear arrays of water rods can elegantly ramp up at night in increasing blazes of illumination. Impacting water elements can also be used to create almost ghostly, highlighted specters of white water. The emphases in "Aquatectural" features revolve around elegance and relatively slow transition, making use of the water with lighting effect but not including musical scores.

Show fountains coupled with audio choreography are the most intriguing and fascinating fountains currently being built today. These fountains combine most of our human sensory aspects: sight, sound, touch and even olfaction, where fountains feature fragrance cannons that cast aromas in the air to envelop and elevate the experience of the observer. Typically, with a versatility greater and faster than a chameleon's color changes, interactive and show water features are capable of transformations from elegant adornments of architecturally imposing spaces to exuberant, ostentatious and dynamic celebrations of water.

The center geyser of the Paradise Fountain shoots anywhere from 0 to 15 feet in high. The height of the geyser is determined by a VFD (variable frequency drive) that acts much like an accelerator on an automobile. The VFD changes the RPM of the motor therefore increasing or decreasing the water flow that reaches the nozzle of the geyser.

With the demand for more show fountains around the world, many different industries have jumped in to either sink or swim (pun intended). This gamut runs from aerospace companies to air-compressor manufacturers; from rock and roll bands to pyrotechnic firms; all hoping to offer elements of their industries that could add new dimensions to the dynamic displays currently found within the established show fountain industry.

Orchestrating a symphony of engineering disciplines including mechanical, structural, electrical, lighting, audio and architectural is the mandate for fountain designers today. Creating such a fountain sometimes presents the illusion of a contradiction to the laws of physics. Overcoming the challenge of combining these elements together and defying the "laws of nature" are essential to becoming a successful fountain designer/builder. The programming of water feature shows is typically scripted and written on concert type control boards, the show's choreography being a function of the artistic interpretation of a musical score. The boards deliver signals to solid-state relays, contactors, dimming racks, electro-pneumatic controls, valves, air compressors and pumps (which can instantaneously speed up or down to vary flow rates), for the required hydraulic effects.

If mastering that were not enough, fountain designers are now also charged with the theatrical responsibility of finalizing a statement that intrigues and excites the audience. The artistic importance cannot be overshadowed and must be fully developed from the initial concept.

Show fountains benefit an array of places such as retail entertainment centers, theme parks, and casinos. These fountains are used to not only attract people but also to draw them to the various venues at-hand. Guests and patrons seek these out for their family pictures (all of us are sure to find at least one in our photo album), or use them as general meeting places. Kids are also attracted to them when they get lost.

Another factor to consider is with the increased traffic, additional revenue can also be generated through impulse spending and direct target marketing. An overlooked source of revenue are coins tossed in for good luck and wishes. CNN reported that in 1997, the city of Rome harvested $130,000 from their famed Trevi Fountains. Even hospitals are employing the calming influence of fountains to aid in the recovery of their patients and provide tranquility for visiting families and friends.

Interactive fountains require the same choreography as the multi-discipline concerns ascribed to the design of show fountains.

Surrounding the center geyser of the Paradise Fountain are 12 air actuated pop jets. These 12 jets are controlled by the same show control panel which sends a signal to the jet valves causing them to open and close at specific times.

"Interactive" features best describes a family of water attractions that involve body contact and participation in the dynamics of the water. Often found in urban plazas and retail malls, the magnitude of these effects can range from tiny droplets or small marbles of water (which randomly and suddenly spurt up from concealed jets under pavers) to large and geometrically elaborate arrays of jets which dance in ever varying, complex geometric patterns. Small children are intrigued by the smaller variety of feature which provide hours of entertainment value but are visually much more demure than the larger type, typically programmed for high profile displays. Light and music do not play a significant role in these features.

Fountain designers creating interactive fountains must also address the elevated issues of safety and higher levels of water quality from those typically found in show fountains due to the human contact involved. This also should take into consideration any health regulations along with city/county guidelines for treatment of display water.

As mentioned, these fountains, for the most part, are marketed to a younger generation of potential participants, and with the creative insight of the designer, interactive fountains encourage and challenge people to either get wet or not get wet.

It is this single element that will set the stage for fun and excitement of both the participant and the observer. Interactive fountains can offer a random or controlled display of water which serves to astonish the participant and further draw the intended victim deeper within the interactive fountain's wet web of intrigue. The same applied principals of bringing people in and creating a gathering place has been used for generations on fountains.

On much simpler terms, long before the thought of water as an attraction, fountains served a much different purpose. A study of the classic fountain designs further supports the proposition that environmental art has been at the hub of many societies for generations. Such fountains can offer, at times, religious, political and iconoclastic forms of art. The classic fountain ranges from multi-tiered water filled bowls cascading from one level to the next, to those aesthetically supported by opulent statuary of mystical or heavenly creatures. All of these fountains depict the abstract concept found within the mind of the fountain designer. Some wonderful examples of such fountains are those found at The VILLA D'ESTE in Italy, the cultural and creative focal point of classic fountain design in Europe.

The pump room of the Poppy Fountain houses a horizontal stainless steel manifold that attach to the six valves controlling the 1/8" nozzles surrounding the center geyser. The pump room also houses a show control panel which creates various effects and moods.

The Aix-en-Provence region of France is also famous for their classic fountains and has even been bestowed with the name "the city of a thousand fountains." Birthplace of Paul C?(C)zanne, the prevalence of fountains is so great that poet Jean Cocteau once noted "In Aix, a blind man could believe that it was raining, but if he could see without his stick, he would marvel at a hundred blue fountains singing a song of praise to C?(C)zanne."

The beauty of fountains was not strictly limited to Europe. The fountain has been an important part of the Japanese culture for centuries. The earliest basin fountains, or "chozubachi," first originated in ancient shrines and temples for worshipers to purify their minds and body before entering. These were later reduced in size for tea gardens to create the "tsukubai," which means "crouching basin." Use of these were intended to create the right state of mind before guests joined the tea ceremony. Even today, many Japanese gardens have both the chozubachi and tsukubai that are fed with water from a bamboo spout.

Utilizing the European designs as inspiration and looking to recreate the palaces of his homeland, industrialist Pierre du Pont's Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania has more fountains than any other garden in the United States. His passion developed three separate fountain gardens and numerous other water features on the 1,050 acre estate. The Italian Water Garden is based upon the Villa Gamberaia near Florence, Italy. To enhance this design, du Pont added 600 jets of recirculating water. At the Open Air Theater, the previous water feature was replaced with 750 illuminated jets and the masterpiece of his estate can be found at the Main Fountain Garden in front of the Conservatory, where 10,000 gallons a minute shoot as high as 130 feet.

Never wanting to duplicate a previous accomplishment, "choreographed" water features which describe the most upbeat and complex type of show feature evolved. Water basins and even quite substantial lakes house the show hardware effects, and at pre-programmed times, scores of independently controlled jets and lights erupt into sequenced chases and patterned displays, spiking the air with discrete bursts, swaying waves and tall majestic water columns. Meticulously orchestrated, these water shows pulse to musical rhythms and typically conclude with erupting tumults of bursting water, which collapse as dramatically as the show commenced.

Such prominent features are the newest generation of fountains to be found along the Las Vegas strip, high profile malls and modern city environments. Computer programmed, these features allow literally an infinite number of show variations. With multi-million dollar price tags, these high end features are not for the feint-of-heart developer, but the benefit to these projects is measured in terms of project signature; a value which while monetarily less tangible can be measured by identity and the fame of uniqueness.

The Poppy Fountain consists of a center geyser that peaks at 20 feet and is surrounded by a three-foot diameter ring holding six 1/8" nozzles that circle the center jet. Furthermore, each petal has a 1/8" nozzle that sprays over the petals.

Reliably fusing the operation of all these components and ensuring the precision and consistent replication of hydraulic effects in performance after performance are the yardsticks now used to measure a water show's success. Durability and longevity of equipment is key, and the day-to-day maintenance must be reasonable and not excessively onerous so as not to jeopardize the long-term economic feasibility of such operations.

"Show" water features are now used as the centerpiece and visual focus of major projects. Capable of infinite display possibilities, the random and unusual effects with sporadic and sudden character changes are used to surprise, amaze and delight the viewer, leaving an indelible memory of the feature and project alike in the visitor's mind.