Prof.

B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Director, School of Architecture, REVA University

WATER BODY
WATER AS A MAJOR LANDSCAPE ELEMENT
 Water is an integral part of any landscape design.
 Difficult to maintain but most preferred
 Used in different permutations and combinations
History
 Italian garden – steep slopes, water falls, cascades
 Japanese garden – natural, symbolic, informal
 Islamic garden – char bagh, formal design, man made
 French garden – slow moving, ponds, Reflections, formal
 Mughal garden – formal, manmade
 Romantic garden – dynamic, light & sound, fountains, flowing
 Rural areas – natural, informal
 Urban areas – formal, man made, appear like natural
Utilitarian purpose - KRS dam, Shalimar bagh, Halsur lake
 Dams, lakes
 Reservoirs
 Swimming pool
 Boating
 Recreation
Man made
 Fountains
 Artificial water body
 Symbolic elements
 Active & passive recreation
Natural
 River, river front
 Lake, lake related
 Water falls
 Sea, sea related
Urban areas
 Manmade elements
 Conservation & treated water
 Light, Colour & sound
 Recreation
 Health related
 Rain water harvest
 Grey water
 Water recycling
 Pollution??
Rural areas
 Utilitarian purpose
 Natural elements
 Passive recreation
 Pollution??
Prof. B S Jagadeesha Chandra, Director, School of Architecture, REVA University

Cascades - shallow and steep

water in nature – source, spring, stream, pond, marsh, lake, falls, tributaries, river
delta
Water in landscape design
aesthetics, moods, sound effects, surroundings, shapes, concept & ideas, formal &
informal, size & scale, treated water, conservation, combination with plants
Manmade cascades - manmade but natural look, geometrical shapes, design style,
materials used, size & scale, selected plants
Natural cascades - existing but modified, natural shapes, materials, natural plant,
materials, size & scale
Manmade water elements – fountains, over flowing, jet, falling, opening shapes,
focal point, natural cascade, manmade cascade, light effects, sound effects
Space around water body – view, relaxing, scenery, edge, flora / fauna, micro
climate

WATER
1. STILL WATER
1A. Uninterrupted – reflection, window
1B. Interrupted – Texture, activated
2. MOVING WATER
2A. Gravity
a. Free fall – sheet, interrupted sheet, disturbed sheet, falls
b. Flowing – turbulent, stream, quiet stream, aerated water fall
c. Cascade – over steps, stepped pools, fast moving, slow, steep fall
2B. Air pressure
a. Spouts – vertical jet, aerated spray, sheet of water
b. Fountains – musical, colourful, nozzle shape

WATER MOODS
Peace – still water, uninterrupted water
Joyful – moving, flowing, light & sound
Adventure – steep fall, jet of water, heavy sound
WATER EFFECTS
VISUAL – aesthetics, recreation, views
AUDITORY – various sounds, moods, music & sound
SYMBOLIC – water falls, river flow, lake

FUNCTION – Storage, Aeration, water harvesting, to improve climate