Ornamental pools are a maintenance decision first
A reflecting pool, a landscape water feature and a koi pond look similar on a drawing and behave
very differently once they are filled. A still, shallow, sunlit body of water in a Gulf climate warms
quickly, evaporates fast and grows algae unless it is turned over, filtered and dosed. The three
decisions that keep it looking the way the render promised are water depth, turnover rate and the
finish colour — a dark finish reads as a mirror but runs hotter, a light finish stays cooler but
shows every particle.
Ornamental and landscape pools: type against requirement
| Type | What it is for | What it needs |
| Reflecting pool | Mirror surface for a facade or courtyard | Shallow depth, dark finish, level edge, wind shelter |
| Cascade / weir feature | Sound and movement | Pump duty, level weir, splash containment, scale control |
| Planted / natural pond | Landscape and biodiversity | Biological filtration, aeration, planting shelves, liner detail |
| Koi pond | Fish keeping | Larger depth, dedicated biofilter and UV, no copper-based chemistry |
| Fountain / jet feature | Focal point | Wind-off control, low-level lighting, accessible nozzle service |
Detailing that stays invisible
Tanking, movement joints, edge details and the position of the plant chamber are what separate a
water feature that still looks good in its fifth summer from one that is drained. The circulation
principles are the same as for a swimming pool and are set out in
water circulation in a pool; the cleaning and
chemistry regime follows pool maintenance. Where a client
asks about salt systems for a landscape pool, the trade-offs are covered in
salt water pools, and the regional water and climate
constraints in swimming pools in Dubai.
Who builds an ornamental pool, where the works are made, and who makes the plant
The shell, the waterproofing, the edge detail and the stone or mosaic finish of an ornamental or landscape pool are built and installed by Sauna Dekor, and the fitted stone and metalwork are made in the company’s own workshop at İkitelli OSB, Başakşehir, Istanbul by nineteen people. The same company commissions the pool in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Sauna Dekor has manufactured since 1987, is in its fortieth year and has completed work in more than 35 countries.
The circulation pumps, the underwater lighting, the filtration and the dosing plant are bought-in equipment made by their own manufacturers and supplied with those manufacturers’ certification. Sauna Dekor’s own certificate is TS EN ISO 9001:2015, covering the manufacture of sauna and spa products and after-sales service.
An ornamental pool is a maintenance decision before it is a landscape one; the shared scope behind every pool type is set out here.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should a reflecting pool be?
Shallow — typically 100 to 250 mm of visible water over a dark finish, with the working depth and the plant connections hidden in a separate chamber. Deeper water does not improve the reflection and makes the feature slower to warm, slower to clean and harder to keep clear.
How is an ornamental pool kept clear in a hot climate?
Continuous turnover through filtration, controlled chemistry or biological filtration depending on type, and UV or ozone where planting or fish rule out conventional dosing. Shading, water depth and finish colour all change how hard the plant has to work, which is why they are chosen with the filtration rather than after it.
Can a landscape pool hold fish and plants?
Yes, but it becomes a different system. A planted or koi pond needs biological filtration, aeration, greater depth for temperature stability, and chemistry that is safe for livestock, which rules out the copper-based algaecides used in ornamental water. That decision has to be made before the shell is built, not after stocking.
How long does an ornamental pool take to build?
A courtyard-scale reflecting pool or cascade runs roughly 8–14 weeks from approved drawings to handover, covering shell, tanking, plant, finishes and commissioning. Larger landscape schemes are programmed against the hard landscaping and the irrigation works around them.
Which countries do you deliver landscape water features in?
Across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the wider GCC as a turnkey contractor, and as a supplier with supervision further afield — we have worked in more than 35 countries from our Istanbul base since 1987.