Fountain with a Past: Ancient Aqueduct-Inspired Water Feature

Jurors called this garden "fantastical, gutsy, refreshing." Its centerpiece, designed by landscape architect Gregory Trutza, is an 8-foot-tall "ancient aqueduct" with faded Sumerian hieroglyphs on Italian lime plaster, suggesting a past culture. A 30-foot pond captures the falling water. The structure accommodates a palo verde tree and complements the owners' art collection (visible from their living room).

Added humidity soothes plants; the interplay of wall texture and foliage is striking. This bold feature demonstrates that designers should continue taking risks.

Designer: Gregory Trutza, New Directions in Landscape Architecture, Phoenix (602/998-4399)