Over the years, we have been exploring the relationship between naturally moving water, its therapeutic qualities and how it can bring about a sense of wellbeing. During this time, we have worked with a number of medical practitioners, therapists (conventional and alternative), Feng Shui masters, mental health managers and heads of special needs educational establishments and communities, all of whom understand the value of healthy, naturally moving water and the environment it creates. It has been found by one doctor that consultancy times could be halved when patients spend five minutes quietly with the Flowforms beforehand.
Projects have included a sensory garden for a special needs school; water gardens in a number of mental health rehabilitation units; a water cascade for a healing garden within a young offenders’ institute; and water features for several memorial gardens.
The Ovella Flowforms were installed in a geodesic dome glass house, which formed a welcoming, sheltered space to support their clients’ engagement with the natural surroundings. We designed and built the space following the clients’ initial idea to have an outside seating area in a glass dome at a mental health facility within the NHS.
A long cascade of Large Ovella Flowforms was used to engender a sound like a lake shore in the garden to support the work of the Chaplaincy. It was wonderful that some of the residents were able to participate in the building process.
‘The Inner Harbour’ garden at Little Harbour Children’s hospice features the Ovella Flowform.
Essential qualities listed in the design specification:
- Held
- Slow rhythmical wash
- Fresh
- Restful yet gently enlivening
- Sea worn
- Warn materials
- Welcoming
As part of an initiative to convert an exercise yard into a garden for older prisoners, the Small Emerson Flowforms were installed in a raised pond to address all corners of the garden and fill the space with a refreshing mood. The Emersons are a generous, out-giving form, with a fairly good flow rate, so they can generate a strong flow and a good sound.
