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How do water features create a larger sense of place within urban fabrics?

 So far...

Water, Nature, & Culture by Veronica Strang

  • Exploration of relationships between humans & water throughout history and culture.
  • Agriculture, transportation, & spiritual practices
Blue Architecture Water, Design, and Environmental Futures by Brook Muller
  • Environmental concerns for water in urban spaces
  • Stance is that we NEED more water features and goes IN DEPTH with graphical analysis on exactly why water systems built into buildings are necessary for the health and well being of humans and the environment.
Other LIT Reviews...

The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces by William H. Whyte
  • Book & film observes how people act within large and small public spaces within a large urban setting.
  • KEY ELEMENTS TO A SUCCESSFUL URBAN SPACE 
    • Comfortable seating
    • Food and drink options
    • Mix of activities that cater to a diverse range of people (of all backgrounds and ages).
  • Access is lacking in public water features within the United States!
    • "It is not right to put water before people and then keep them from it. (pg. 48)"
  • The sound of water features can mitigate the noise of the city, and mask conversations.
  • Paley Park Waterwall in NYC
    • People find this park "so quiet and restful, on thing they always mention is the waterwall" due to its dramatic visual effect. "In fact the waterwall is quite loud: the noise level is about 75 decibels close by, measurably higher than the level out on the street. (pg. 48)"
    • Tapes of the audio on their own sound to majority like subway cars/trucks on a freeway, and are therefore undesirable on their own. 

  • WATER FEATURES SHOULD MATCH THE CHAOS OR LACK THEREOF OF ANY SETTING IN THE DESIGN AND NOISE LEVEL.
  • Stance is that public spaces should be designed with human behavior in mind and provide people with opportunities for social interactions to create a sense of community!
    • TRIANGULATION = "that process by which some external stimulus provides a linkage between people and prompts strangers to talk to each other as though they were not. (pg. 94)

Water & Architecture by Charles W. Moore


  • Water has always been an essential element of architecture that has the power transform the built environment in a unique way.
  • Water in public spaces can provide cooling and irrigation in urban settings.
  • Water can create a sense of tranquility and calm in the midst of active urban atmospheres.
  • IN-DEPTH explorations of culture and symbolism in water feature designs base on the setting of each.
  • Water features should be harmonious with their surrounding context and visually represent the cultural and environmental context.
  • EMPHASIS on context-sensitive design!
    • Design should be sensitive to climate/ecology as well as social and cultural context of the surrounding community and site.
    • CAUTIONS against using water features as mere decorative elements & emphasizes the importance of designing water features that are appropriate for their context and purpose.
    • Historical, cultural, and environmental context of site = ESSENTIAL



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