Water music: Oase

No question about it: Gardens open up enormous scope for design. No matter whether you give free rein to nature or impose a clear design concept – gardens reflect the aesthetic preferences and personality of their owners in many different ways. The beauty of a garden, terrace, or even balcony, is that you can plant and design them exactly as you wish and then nature enters into the dialogue too – helping to make it a place of contemplation and relaxation. This also includes the interplay of water and light – in the form of illuminated waterfalls, ponds and fountains.

Architecture, nature and water: this combination of themes brings immediately to mind Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural icon Fallingwater, the private house built directly on a natural waterfall in a forest in Pennsylvania. But how can you integrate the sensual play of water in or in front of buildings if you don't have an actual waterfall handy?

Since 1949, Oase has specialised in the manufacture and realisation of architecture-related water projects. These range from small-scale products for balconies and gardens to large, illuminated fountains in hotel lobbies. Immaterial of the dimensions, these projects involve a high-contrast meeting of static architecture and moving water, and offer a homely feeling as well as being pleasant to look at.

Around this time of year, many balcony, terrace and garden owners start to think about how they can make these places even more attractive and comfortable – it stands to reason of course, as people spend more time outside during these warmer months. And it’s during this time that so many of Oase’s products shine brightest – on warm summer nights and after dark. A bubbling fountain, for example, is especially effective when illuminated by ever-changing, coloured light.

Some may think that implementing water features such as this in one’s own garden must involve a lot of effort, and, of course, everything depends on the size of the project. But when it comes to solutions for balconies, terraces and gardens, Oase has set itself the goal of making the installation of its products as simple as it can be by utilising the plug-and-play principle. This means, in effect, that fitting and implementation should be as straightforward as possible., and this is where the Hörstel company’s decades of experience come into play.

Whether small water feature, garden pond or even koi pond – from installation, operation and maintenance to accessories, decoration or smart control – Oase has user-friendliness and, of course, safety in mind when developing these respective solutions. Oase’s ‘Made in Germany’ stamp of quality is particularly evident in the sophistication of the technical modules and their durability – key factors for customers with long term usage in mind who don’t want to have to overly worry about maintenance and cleaning.

For example, the small Filtral UVC water feature for the balcony and terrace has an integrated underwater filter as well as algae-preventing UVC clarifier, which can be easily installed underwater in a concrete bowl, zinc tub or pond tub. In this way, the technology remains invisible. The low-voltage UV-C lamp kills floating algae and bacteria – thus keeping the water clean – and its additional LED lighting adds a touch of flair to the fountain. The stainless steel ‘Waterfall Kit’, available in 30 or 60cm wide versions, can be quickly installed on a solid base (a gravel surface, for example) in combination with a water reservoir.

Oase’s LunAqua spotlights are suitable for the lighting of ponds and plants in the evening-time. The compact LED spotlights provide generous light and are energy-saving at the same time. They illuminate fountains and can be inserted into stone slabs or mounted on walls. And thanks to their underwater connection technology, they can be installed just as easily in a pond. So you see, Oase offers architects, landscape architects and designers numerous possibilities for equipping outdoor areas with sophisticated technology. In the end though, perhaps it's not about the products themselves, but rather the imaginative application of water and light for creating a personal oasis which offers the user a sense of tranquillity and relaxation, along with that unmistakable holiday feeling.

© Architonic