Landscape Trends: Spout and Trough Fountains
The Rural Landscape Provides a Modern Form for the Garden
Have you noticed some simple yet striking fountains around lately? Their rectilinear forms resemble troughs, and they usually have a simple flat runner that the water splashes down. In the history of landscape architecture, two precedents using this kind of fountain design stand out in my mind. The first is the work of Luis Barragan, who used oversized trough and spout fountains as a bold move. The second precedent is the troughs A.E. Bye used in Kentucky on a horse farm.
The long trough-like fountains borrowed from the vernacular elements of the equestrian landscape. It's a versatile form to use, as it can be scaled to the pleasing proportions that fit individual landscapes. Let's take a look.
The long trough-like fountains borrowed from the vernacular elements of the equestrian landscape. It's a versatile form to use, as it can be scaled to the pleasing proportions that fit individual landscapes. Let's take a look.
Here the trough-like fountain fits right into the rural landscape and helps define the transitional area between the outdoor rooms and rest of the property. It has hard and straight edges between the fence and road and the patio.
Here's a closer look at the fountain itself.
A variation on the design, this in-ground trough provides a koi pond.
Here the spout creates a strong perpendicular line to the long pond. The dark metal next to the light concrete is a nice contrast.
The cascading water fills this entryway with the relaxing sound of water.
This large-scale trough and spout fountain serves as a boundary between the built landscape and a cliff that looks over the Pacific ocean.
This spout, an extension of the house's backyard facade, creates a strong connection between the yard and the interior.
This same house has a huge garage door between the living room and the patio, so the line between inside and out is nearly seamless. In fact, it toys with us; the patio has a hardwood surface and the floor of the interior is concrete, flipping our expectations.
Here our runner goes straight down a wall, makes a 90-degree angle, and lets the water run into the trough. It's a strong vertical element in the design.
More:
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More:
35 Fabulous Fountains
11 Inspiring Vertical Gardens
Inspired Designs for Sloped Lots
This fountain emphasizes the different levels of this patio area, with the water cascading from one down to the next.