Zen-Style Fountain Makes a Statement in Front Courtyard

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Design+Build Outdoor Spaces

These Johnston, Iowa clients, who have done many projects with Silent Rivers, came to us requesting a beautifully designed front courtyard with a water feature inspired by a fountain they had seen while on a family vacation.

What resulted was a collaboration with the clients to design a fountain not only mimicking the one that inspired them, but also unique to their familial dynamics. The water feature we originally designed had a solar system representation on the bottom of a reflecting pool with each family member having a tower projecting in the location of their ruling planet according to their zodiac sign. We incorporated other celestial elements, but further discussions with the client led us to a much simpler design.

In the final design the pool became a simple basin where the family can relax. In keeping with the original design we gave the fountain a celestial theme, and incorporated three focal points to welcome visitors from multiple angles. We worked with the existing architecture, improved the walkways and made sure our plan reduced the maintenance load in caring for the new water feature and plantings.

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