Rejuvenating and Redesigning an Ornamental Pond with an Improved Filtration System and Unique Aquatic plants
"A well designed garden pond is a habitat where rich,
beneficial macro and microscopic life
can thrive and impact the environment
that we live in."
Area of pond
52 sqm
Family of
5 people & 4 dogs
Hubli Avg Temperature
24.4 degrees C
As the functioning of waterscapes are not widely known about, the client needed guidance on selecting appropriate aquatic plants and improving pond health.
The pond has two parts, the front half is beautiful, lush and filled with colourful water lilies so much so that the water’s surface is not visible! There is a fountain feature on this side that has been dismantled and used ornamentally.
The other half however, was barren, the mud was old and the pond was not waterproofed so it was always dry. As the owner of the property loves gardening and had many beautiful decorative elements on her property, this part of the pond needed to be drastically changed to fit in with the aesthetic. Especially as it is the first thing you see when you step out of one of the back door entrance.
To design a unique, refreshing ornamental pond that functions on minimal energy, has
multiple flowering aquatic plant species and attracts biodiversity.
Problems arising from Faulty Construction
The main issue was that the pond at the time of construction about 10 years ago, had not been reinforced or waterproofed, and the original pond liner was in tatters. This caused excess seepage of water.
Pond construction is simple but requires very specific protocols to function flawlessly as many elements such as water, soil, algae, fish, plants, and air all come together in such an ecosystem. When a pond has been faultily constructed, retrofitting work is quite challenging and may even be more difficult than building from scratch. When a client spends a lot of money on the initial construction, they may not be inclined to spend again therefore our solutions have to be creative and effective, utilizing resources efficiently.
Firefly’s Approach
Our approach was to design the layout of the pond in such a way that it had a very natural flow to the periphery of the pond. The aesthetic was tropical and organic.
Empathizing with the client’s needs and new obstacles that presented themselves, Firefly sought to create a healthy and aesthetic pond by using containers and existing urlis to grow and showcase 15 species of plants with a play on varied depths and colours. The pond would induce a cooling sensation in the atmosphere and act as a significant carbon sink on the property. One third the amount of water would be recycled once or twice a month and reused within the landscape of the property with no wastage.
Firefly worked with the client based on their comfort level, explaining the ecosystem, process of execution in detail and the detailed BOQ requirement. This helped in weighing options and coming up with creative ways of using available resources.
Easy Retrofit
Creative Alternatives and Local Resources
Some existing landscape elements such as boulder, pebbles and rocks, as well as treasured antique showpieces are incorporated in the design thereby reducing project costs.
Biodiversity
The design showcases plant species that attract and help create a biodiversity hotspot with several flowering varieties.
Recommendations for Future
A constructed wetland can be installed to treat wastewater from the house as well as stale water from the ornamental pond to irrigate the Fruit Orchard and Gardens of the house.
Easy Maintenance
Self regulating and self cleaning garden pond, with a simple fountain for aeration. Local river fish that keep the pond algae-free.
Impact
Created a mini
biodiversity
hotspot on the property
Wellbeing & Health of people improved due to the natural liveliness of the pond
Reduced air pollution as aquatic plants act like a powerful buffer against contaminated air
Greater socialization among family and friends and from guests
Awareness about Wetland ecosystems and conservation
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