Water in the landscape

Abstract

Water has a very special quality as an element in landscape design. Over many centuries and in many countries it has in turn been acknowledged and exploited, and it has inspired. It has been a great provider not only in physical terms, but also in the many ways it has contributed to both natural and man-made environments through its aesthetic qualities. Water is special also in that, left to itself, it will always lie level, but with the help of God, nature and the artifice of man, it is capable of assuming an exuberance and vigour, and a symbolism difficult to achieve with any other natural element.It would be a very tall order in the space of this paper to give a comprehensive outline of the role played by water in landscape design in historical and contemporary terms.A brief European historical background sets the scene for a number of case studies, each outlining a special opportunity for the use of water as an element in design solutions to specific problems - urban and regional parks, garden festivals and expositions.