Water feature designers are constantly engaged in a creative process that requires input from many sources. The challenge of producing long-lasting architectural water features that are not only dependable, but also uniquely tied to the structures and neighborhoods that surround them, is a universal one.

Consistently producing designs that align with these criteria is difficult, and inspiration often appears in the works of others. As with any artistic form, very few installations are objectively original, and it is common for new designs to draw upon ideas from the past.

Listed below are water features from around the world that should be familiar not only to designers, but the general public as well. Their technical acuity and visual appeal demand attention. Whether due to their artistry, historical significance, or both, these stunning features have become indisputable icons of water architecture design.

9/11 Memorial Pools designed by Michael Arad

1. 9/11 Memorial Pools

Designed by architect Michael Arad, these structures serve as grim reminders of the September 2001 terror attacks, while also hinting at a brighter future. The feature is composed of two deep-set pools surrounded by cascading waterfalls. Beneath the waters of the North pool are the names of all of the victims of the attacks on the twin towers, while the South pool is dedicated to those who perished in subsequent attacks, including first responders.

Located at the center of a broader architectural monument, Arad’s design is meant to instill thoughts of nature and memory. Winds cause the water to shift and shimmer in different ways, creating a ‘living’ effect.

2. King Fadh’s Fountain

First launched in 1985, this towering water jet is an engineering feat. Drawing water from the Red Sea, it stands at approximately 280 meters high, making it the tallest feature in the world. King Fadh’s fountain was a gift to the city of Jeddah from the eponymous Saudi king, and its impact on the region is immediately apparent, as it can be seen for miles around. The magnitude of this feature is astounding, with the airborne mass of its water jet often exceeding 16 tonnes.

3. Swarovski Crystal Worlds

While André Heller’s massive installation is composed of multiple art exhibitions, few are as impressive from a designer’s perspective as the ‘The Giant’. Embedded within the surrounding greenery, this fantastical water spout arouses the imagination, and is an excellent example of how architectural artistic designs can meld perfectly with nature. Heller himself is an intriguing figure – a stage performer and author, one can see a broad array of influences reflected within his design choices.

4. Singapore Changi Waterfall

The world’s largest port city is home to many ground-breaking architectural feats. Singapore’s airport, regarded as one of the best in the world, contains ‘The Rain Vortex’, a 131 foot waterfall located within a five story mega-complex of gardens, hotels, restaurants, and outlets. This indoor man-made waterfall, the tallest of its kind, is an engineering masterpiece that circulates rainwater, alternates its flows to prevent humid conditions, and is designed to make very little sound. At night, the circular walls that encompass it come alive with innovative lighting displays.

5. Osaka Station Fountain Clock

This beautiful junction of practicality and art is an iconic centerpiece within Osaka’s largest shopping mall. The clock’s display is created and ‘printed’ using a series of nozzles, which can be controlled and altered within a time frame as short as 1/100 of a second. In addition to displaying the time, this feature regularly creates images of flowers and trees that are central to Japanese culture. To add to its technical majesty, the clock’s nozzles and pump circulate incredibly small amounts of recycled water.

6. Charybdis (Vortex Fountain)

Charybdis bears mythological qualities both in appearance and origin. Named after a siren struck by lightning and converted to a whirlpool within Homer’s Odyssey, this water vortex is surrounded by steps so as to offer onlookers multiple enthralling vantage points. Creator William Pye produced this work as an attempt to ‘challenge the wayward element of water’. The optical illusion created by Charybdis is the result of water being pushed vertically upwards through layered glass, only to funnel down from the top. The resulting vortex is an astounding example of how water is shaped by both gravity and the container in which it resides.

7. Fountains of Bellagio

Las Vegas’ Fountains of Bellagio are instantly recognizable. These fountains are located on an immense 8-acre man-made lake, and utilize multiple types of nozzles and jets to produce a stunning array of choreographed effects. Visitors are regularly provided with exciting shows that combine lights and timed water displays with an auditory backdrop of popular songs. Unsurprisingly, a team of engineers oversees the fountain at all times. One of their principal duties is to monitor local wind conditions so that they can adjust the nozzle’s power accordingly. Although the fountains do use immense amounts of water, the majority of it is re-circulated through a network of pipes, with most of the deficit resulting from evaporation in the Nevada heat.

The creative process behind producing water features is a complex one, and Vincent Helton’s design team must constantly find ways to adapt to new challenges. While every project needn’t break the innovative boundaries produced by these seven designs, elements of each can still be incorporated into new features to produce intriguing effects. Inspiration can be found in architecture, in nature, and in the minds of our fellow designers. Sometimes, looking outwards is one of the best ways to stoke the creativity within.

Creativity in Water Form: Seven Iconic Features from Around the World