Move over, Monet: OASE

Extraordinary architects and designers realise opportunities that others decline to pursue. And they typically demonstrate this attitude in all areas of life, professional and private alike. An example? I will never forget the first time I visited the legendary designer Dieter Rams at his house in Kronberg, which he had helped plan. As we entered his studio, my gaze was drawn through large windows to his Japanese-influenced garden with bonsai trees. But what made, and makes, the landscaping so special was that he had integrated a small pool into the confines of the property. A clear testament to the notion that even a limited opportunity to swim is far better than none at all!

Without a doubt, gardens offer unimagined design possibilities for the creation of a place for oneself and one’s family that promises quiet and relaxation. A place in which to experience the changing seasons; where one can become, in the midst of nature, a part of nature; and in which one can carefully select the plantings so that their interplay forms a harmonious unity. The addition of a garden pond can create a new focal point that invites one to pause and spend time. After all, what could be lovelier and more relaxing than sitting with family members and friends at the edge of the pond, watching the gentle motion of the water with all its reflections, and perhaps, beneath the surface, the undulations of fish as they explore?

Making a vision like this a reality is much less difficult than one might think. An experienced partner for numerous projects combining architecture, landscape and water, Oase has been making a name for itself since 1949. The company’s product line ranges from small-scale solutions for balconies and gardens to large, illuminated fountains for hotel lobbies. Whatever a project’s dimensions, Oase always aims to accompany customers in bringing their design ideas to life such that the result is a feast for the eyes – and as close to the original concept as possible.

This means taking into account, right from the planning phase, aspects like environmental friendliness, long service life, technology and maintenance. And here in particular, the more than 70 years’ experience of the firm from Hörstel, north of Münster, plays an important role. Take pumps as a product group: for all the various purposes and pond dimensions, there is a fitting solution, for example the 12-volt pumps needed in swimming ponds. But Oase knows most garden-lovers want to have as little to do with a pond’s technical aspects as possible. For this reason, from installation to operation to maintenance, the company places top priority on reducing complexity.

One special type of garden pond is the swimming pond. That’s right: with a large enough area, one can outfit the garden so that it doesn’t just please the eye, but also offers recreation and fun for the entire family. Incidentally, the possibility of being able to get in the water and swim makes this a healthy option as well. One can choose between laying out the private swimming pond in classic linear form – in correspondence with the architecture, for example – or lending it contours that resemble a natural border.

A natural pool of this kind blends effortlessly into the surroundings, almost as if it has always been there. Perimeter plantings can further enhance the natural atmosphere, increasingly creating the impression of a natural pond over time. The water surface cleaners from Oase’s SwimSkin series are perfectly suited for use in such a pond: because they don’t require a separate pump, they lend themselves ideally for retrofitting. They additionally enrich the pond water with oxygen – and have no trouble dealing with variations in the water level.

YouTube even has videos showing how to install a swimming pond practically on one’s own using a SwimPond set from Oase. The set contains all of the necessary components, and attention has been given to making assembly as simple as possible and to limiting the parts to the essential. Who knows? Perhaps the conception of the system was inspired by the famous Dieter Rams credo: ‘Less but better’.

© Architonic