In modern day offices and homes wall fountains are appearing everywhere. They have become common fixtures in entryways and reception areas across the modern world, and smaller table fountains are a familiar sight to see on concierge desks or in private offices—a long way from manicured gardens or bustling city monuments. Why have these fixtures become, well, fixtures in these vastly diverse habitats and what advantages do they have?

Water signals peace and security to the human psyche. The reason why is fairly comprehensible. River valleys are comparatively safe, comfortable spots. Crops can be irrigated, drinking water is easily accessible, travel is easy, and game animals frequent the area in order to drink. Therefore the sound of moving water causes a calming sensation, working off of our instinctual knowledge that to be near running water is to be safe and materially secure.

In an office setting this one little effect can be enough to color an employee’s whole daily experience for the better, reducing the impact of stress and panic (which are all too abundant in the modern workplace) and instead offering assurance of safety and tranquility.

The visual effect of a wall fountain is no less. Offices are dead, static environments that no twenty year old fichus can resurrect. However, water is cleansing and ever-new. Not only does the fountain humidify and clean the air as it works, reducing the static smell, but it offers an endlessly moving visual focus-point that actually eases the mind when it faces a day off staring at monotonously flickering screens. Water is alive, it is healing, and it is easy to find a fountain to fit whatever space needs its special charm.