Everyone has seen the excitement small children show when they walk into a room with a pond or a fountain. They are drawn instantly to touch the water and peer down to see what is underneath. A Wall Fountain often has much the same effect, as they are fixated on the miniature waterfall and the endless change and sameness of its flow.
The effect fountains have on adults must of course be similar on some level, otherwise why would so many invest so much on so many fountains? Actually, fountains touch a deeply imbedded instinct in the human psyche. All animals need water and are drawn to water sources. Nature documentaries on watering holes on the savannah offer ample proof of this fact. A little fountain in an office says that there is a source of clean fresh water, a stream or spring, nearby which reduces our psychological stress and tells us to be calm and stay put.
This effect has broader implications as well. Plants grow near water, associating provision and abundance with the sound. This, in an office environment, may increase productivity and confidence in workers on a deep and hidden level. If there is water, there is likely food and therefore, on an instinctual level, there is reason to relax and set down roots.
Many office spaces and homes have taken advantage of the psychology of the water fountain, treating them like artwork yet understanding the deep, stress-reducing power of water in a place of high expectations and stress. It is a aspect of office life and decoration worth due consideration.
