Social, psychological and environmental effects

Social, psychological and environmental effects

Design conditions for a pleasant, usable and responsible space

2–1. The fountain and the everyday experience of the city

The quality of an urban space can be seen in the behavior of its users: do people stop to sit? Is the conversation in a comfortable environment? Are the elderly and children also able to use the space? Is it pleasant to attend at different times of the day?

The fountain can play a role in answering these questions. The movement of the water, the sound of the flow and the changing of the reflections, allow the designer to create a diverse experience. But the result depends on how water is combined with other components of the environment. Seating, shade, access route, cleanliness, loudness and maintenance all contribute to the final experience of people.

In this chapter, the fountain works are examined in three areas: psychological and sensory experience, social presence and interaction, and environmental performance. In each area, it is necessary to distinguish between "potential capacity", "result observed in a study" and "effect measured in the project in question". This distinction is the basis of documented decision-making in fountain design and management.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 1–2: A landscape photograph of a GSO project showing the relationship of the fountain with benches, shade, green space, and the presence of people. Suggested subtitle: "The quality of the fountain experience is the result of the harmony of water, the environment and the possibility of presence."

2–2. Relaxation, pause and mental recovery

One of the common goals in fountain design is to provide a space to pause and take a temporary break from the rush of daily activities. For the scientific investigation of this goal, you can refer to the researches of "blue spaces"; A term that includes environments such as beaches, rivers, lakes and some artificial water spaces.

In a randomized cross-over study of 59 adults, participants walked a coastal path or an urban path or rested at a control location at different times. Researchers reported more improvement in mood and sense of well-being after a short walk in the coastal environment; But for the investigated cardiovascular outcomes, no clear positive benefit was obtained. This study was about walking on an urban beach, and the result cannot be directly generalized to a small fountain. Source: Vert et al., 2020, Water Walk Research ^[7]

For the design of the fountain, the practical impression is that the quality of people's exposure to water is important. A water feature that can only be seen from behind a glass or from a long distance has a different experience than a water feature where you can sit, see and hear.

The design proposal of this book is to anticipate several modes of presence: watching briefly from the passage, sitting at a comfortable distance, and observing from a quieter vantage point. In this way, users can choose the intensity of their exposure to water, sound and crowd.

It is better to ask the users themselves about the feeling of peace. Questions like "Is this place suitable for a short break?" or "How pleasant is the sound of the water at this point?" For project evaluation, they are clearer than general claims about treating anxiety or reducing stress.

2–3. The sound of water and the quality of the listening environment

The sound of water is one of the tools for designing the listening environment. This sound has different characteristics depending on the type of nozzle, flow rate, drop height, impact surface and the distance of the listener. Therefore, the selection of the nozzle and the flow shape should be done along with the consideration of the resulting sound.

In a study on sounds recorded from 32 fountains, 57 listeners rated the similarity and pleasantness of the sounds. Under the conditions of that experiment, quieter sounds with greater temporal variation were generally rated as more pleasant. Some harsh and monotonous sounds were not pleasant, even after equalizing the sound level. This finding shows that the loudness of the voice and its auditory character are both important. Source: research on the pleasantness of the sound of fountains ^[8]

The term "white noise" is sometimes applied to any continuous sound of water; But the sound of every fountain is not necessarily white noise in the technical sense. In design, descriptions such as a soft splashing sound, a splashing sound, or a continuous splashing sound have a clearer connection to the choice of equipment.

Adding the sound of water may shift the listener's attention to the traffic or make part of it less audible. However, this perceptual effect does not mean an automatic reduction in the physical level of ambient sound. In a field experiment involving 405 park visitors, fountain brightness did not have a direct and simple relationship with better evaluation of the auditory environment; Hearing traffic and other natural sounds was also effective. Source: Field test of the effect of fountain on the quality of listening environment, 2014 ^[9]

Based on this, it is suggested to evaluate the sound of the design in place and in several operating conditions. Seating points, passageways and the nearest sensitive space, such as a workplace or residential unit, should be included in this assessment. The ability to have a comfortable conversation is also an important functional criterion.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 2-2: Instructional plan of placement of fountain, street, benches and listening points. Three points "near the water", "sitting place" and "area border" should be defined. Avoid displaying the decibel number without actual measurement. Subtitle: "Evaluating the sound of water should be done from the listener's position."

2–4. Vitality and social interaction

To investigate the social role of the fountain, it is necessary to see what activities are formed around it. Watching a show together, dating, family sitting and photography are examples of activities for which space can be provided in the design.

A fountain can support these activities when the route and stopping place are compatible with each other. Crowds of spectators should not make access to entrances difficult. Children's companions must have proper visibility and people who do not intend to watch can also continue on their way.

The proposal of this book is to examine three areas in the campus plan:

• The scope of the fountain itself and its spraying;

• Pause, sit and watch areas;

• Continuous path of passage and access.

The dimensions of these ranges should be determined based on the type of fountain, wind conditions, number of users and project requirements. Using a fixed distance for all fountains ignores the differences between projects.

To measure the social impact, counting the population alone is not enough. The duration of the stop, the type of activity, the time of visit and the possibility of using different groups are also important. Even the increase in shelf life should be interpreted in relation to the project goal; The quiet atmosphere of the neighborhood and the large city show place do not have the same desirable pattern.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Image 3-2: Oblique or elevation photo of a fountain area; The water range, the viewing area and the crossing route should be marked with fine lines. Caption: "Proper placement allows for stopping and passing at the same time."

2–5. Designed for different ages and abilities

The urban fountain should recognize the diversity of users in its design plan. The height of a child's vision, the elderly's need to sit, the movement path of a person in a wheelchair, and the preference of a person sensitive to sound or light, create different experiences.

The design proposal is to provide the right to choose: near and far viewing places, active and quiet space, direct passage and points for longer stops. The view to the fountain is also better to check from a sitting height.

In interactive fountains, it is necessary to pay attention to the users' companions. The place where parents sit, the possibility of monitoring, the clear boundary of the wet area and access to the required services should be seen in the project plan. Also, animations and dynamic lighting can be timed so that users are aware of the type of experience ahead.

Detailed requirements for accessibility, flooring, clearances, and protection are discussed in the design and safety chapters. At this stage, the guiding principle is that the use of fountains for different groups is present in the project issue from the beginning.

2–6. Visual comfort and harmony with the environment

In general literature, a fountain is referred to as reducing clutter or "visual violence". To turn this interpretation into a design decision, it is necessary to clarify the meaning: creating a focal point, adjusting the ratio of open and built space, or harmonizing movement and light with architecture.

These are design goals and their realization depends on the way the project is implemented. A large number of effects or continuous color change alone is not a measure of visual quality. The design should be examined in terms of scale, rhythm, color and relation to the context.

The proposal of this book is to evaluate the water fountain in three situations: day, night and blackout time. During the day, equipment and materials are seen; At night, light and reflection are more important; And at the time of shutdown, the quality of the floor, basin and fixed components is decisive.

To get users' opinions, you can ask if the fountain is in harmony with the personality of the place, if the light is annoying, and if the area has a good quality even when it is turned off. These questions help to refine the design, without assuming the designer's taste as a definitive outcome for all users.

2–7. Fountain and thermal comfort

The fountain can affect the surrounding microclimate through heat exchange and evaporation. The size and direction of this effect depends on temperature, humidity, wind, radiation, spray shape and distance from water.

To assess thermal comfort, measuring air temperature alone is not enough. Humidity, wind speed and body radiation should also be checked. The temperature may drop, but a combination of other factors will limit the improvement in comfort.

In a study of Singapore courtyards that used simulation and field measurements to validate the model, the water fountain reduced air temperature but also increased relative humidity. In the examined conditions, its nighttime effect on thermal comfort was unfavorable and trees performed better in improving comfort. This result is related to the same climate and arrangements studied. Source: Li et al., 2022, Thermal comfort assessment in Singapore courtyards ^[10]

Another research about the combination of vegetation and water feature, with modeling based on field data, has investigated the complementary role of shade and water. Its results indicate the importance of simultaneously designing vegetation and fountains; The resulting numbers are also dependent on the scenarios of the same study. Source: Vegetation and fountain composition assessment, 2025 ^[11]

A practical idea for Iranian projects is to examine the fountain in addition to the shade and air flow. In hot and dry cities, evapotranspiration capacity should be considered along with water resource limitations. In hot and humid areas, the effect of increasing humidity is more important. In windy areas, the place of sitting should be in harmony with the possible path of droplet transfer.

If the goal of the project is to improve thermal comfort, the location and time of measurement should be determined before implementation. A measurement at a point very close to the nozzle will not be representative of the experience of the entire area.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 4-2: Conceptual section of fountain, tree, canopy, seating area and wind direction. Temperature, humidity, wind and radiation are identified as four evaluation factors. Subtitle: "Thermal comfort is the result of the combination of environmental conditions in the place of human presence."

2–8. Environmental performance and resource consumption

The environmental assessment of a fountain should include water consumption, energy, consumables and maintenance needs along with the expected benefits.

The US Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense Guide lists water recirculation, evaporative loss reduction, and leak detection as consumption management measures in decorative fountains. The implementation of these principles must be in harmony with the requirements of water quality and exploitation. Source: EPA, Guide to Managing Water Use in Commercial and Institutional Facilities ^[12]

The suggestion of this book is to separately record the compensated water and energy consumption. This information shows how the project is performing in practice and whether there has been an unusual change in consumption. Display time, wind condition, washing and repairs should also be recorded along with the data so that the cause of the changes can be investigated.

The ecological function of each water space must also be known. A demonstration water fountain with purification and disinfectants is functionally different from a pond designed for habitat. The project documents should state whether the purpose is water display, recreational contact, habitat creation, or an engineered combination of these uses.

Claims such as purifying the city's air or significantly reducing pollution must be supported by specific evidence. To introduce a project, stating measured performance is more valid than adding a bunch of unproven benefits.

2–9. cleanliness and health; Part of the quality of experience

The clarity of the water, the cleanliness of the surfaces and the absence of unpleasant odors are part of the daily experience of the users. However, clear appearance alone is not a complete measure of water's sanitary quality.

CDC's guidelines for decorative fountains emphasize aerosol generation, biofilm control, water condition monitoring, and regular cleaning and disinfection. This guide also raises considerations about the placement of fountains in special environments for people at higher risk of Legionnaires' disease. Source: CDC, Legionella Control in Decorative Fountains ^[13]

The message of this topic for design is to anticipate the possibility of effective maintenance: access to surfaces and equipment, proper evacuation, sampling points and clear operating instructions. The show shutdown schedule must also be coordinated with water circulation and treatment needs.

The permissible limits of water quality and implementation methods of each type of water fountain will be examined in the specialized chapter on health. The type of contact people have with water is an important basis for choosing the requirements for each project.

Figure note from the source manuscript

Figure 5–2: Actual photo of a GSO fountain service, such as nozzle cleaning or water monitoring. Caption: "Sustainable water quality depends on planned maintenance."

2–10. Measuring the effects after exploitation

To evaluate the result of the project, it is suggested to define a simple and repeatable program before implementation. This plan should cover both the physical conditions of the environment and the user experience.

In the comparison before and after implementation, simultaneous changes should also be recorded. If along with the fountain, shade, bench, greenery and new lighting are added, the observed result will be related to the whole intervention. To check the contribution of the fountain, if possible, different display modes can be compared in similar conditions; Without disturbing the purification and safety requirements.

Opening day is not representative of typical performance due to the novelty of the project and special programs. The assessment should also include normal days, different hours and relevant seasonal conditions.

In GSO projects, the juxtaposition of still images from specific points, equipment performance reports, and user feedback can be useful to refine the demonstration program and design subsequent projects. This documentation also allows the implementation examples of the book to show the real experience of exploitation, in addition to the appearance of the project.

Chapter 3 addresses the economic and commercial impacts of the fountain and examines how to evaluate the costs of construction and operation against the measurable benefits of the project.