Beautiful dam design cools more than warm water

We believe that it is better to design dynamically than to scale massively

Dams need to be functional for water security, but we also think they should be beautiful landscape art objects that enhance the natural environment, flora & fauna – and also bring the owner years of happiness & pride.

Before we construct any dam or water catchment, we create a pre-build visualisation so that the client can see what their proposed dam will look like – allowing them to ‘live’ with the design of dam and its placement before construction starts.

Dam design projects in Bellingen, Razorback, Gulgong

Client

Chris Short & Jane Cruikshank | Bellingen NSW | February 2020

Project

Natural swimming pool & feeder dam

These are the design of dam concepts for a new project in Bellingen NSW.

The sub-editor of the Australian Financial Review and his film industry partner are planning a calming water feature to allow them to de-stress from their high pressure day jobs.

The large dam at the rear provides the water to flush the natural swimming pool daily, as well as providing zero-electricity gravity feed irrigation of the down-dam food forest.

Client

Garry Shadlow | Razorback NSW | January 2020

Project

Dam renovation & repair

The Shadlow Project is located at Razorback NSW. Razorback is a very wealthy little village in the hills 45 mins south of Sydney – between the towns of Picton and Camden. The village itself has sweeping views of Sydney and the south coast beaches.

This dam has never held water since it was constructed – and the fault was horizontal linear compaction.

We will be fixing the problem with a Bentonite infused trapazoidal wedge and the whole wall will be anchored with an advanced keying technique using a 22.5 degree inverted sub-stratum bypass lock wedge.

You can read more about this technique here.

Client

Australian Unity | Port Macquarie NSW | November 2019

Project

Sienna Grange Dam Design

These are new dam design concepts for Australian Unity – a major Australian company that operates premium aged care facilities around Australia.

These concepts are for their architecturally designed ‘Sienna Grange’ facility – located in the beautiful coastal town of Port Macquarie.

This high priority project, which is at the heart of the facility, involves converting a landscape void into a spectacular water feature for residents who love open space, fresh air and the serenity of beautiful water.

The design concepts go to great lengths to create an atmosphere of friendship and wellbeing – while strongly incorporating the Australian Unity brand value of being ‘Better Together’

Client

Robert Oatley Olives | Gulgong NSW | November 2019

Project

Super Premium Dam Redesign

Design concepts for the dam refurbishment & rehabilitation at Robert Oatley Olives.

Robert Oatley was one of Australia’s greatest yachtsmen – known for owning the nine-time Sydney-Hobart-winning yacht Wild Oats XI.

He owned Hamilton Island & Rosemount Wines – which was the second largest wine brand in the US. Forbes ranked Mr Oatley as the 34th richest person in Australia, with an estimated net worth of $910 million. Robert Oatley died in 2016 – aged 87.

The Oatley family still own Hamilton Island, and many fine Australian Winery’s.

Bob Oatley’s son Ian runs Robert Oatley Olive Oil – and they produce the very best Olive Oil in Australia – which is marketed as Robert Oatley Extra Virgin Sinolea Olive Oil.

This dam redesign is a aquatecture showpiece that sits above the company’s olive groves in Gulgong NSW – which is 3 hours drive west from Newcastle.

Features include a 16 megalitre main dam using permaculture and aquaculture design principles, advanced island design, 3 food forests that surround the dam and art installations

Permaculture Showcase Project | Herons Creek | November 2019

Design concepts for a unique destination & experience AirBNB project with a heavy emphasis on permaculture and organic style.

Located in the hills outside of Port Macquarie, this project is the brainchild of an innovative and creative young couple who are determined to showcase progressive permacutlure principles for their visitors.

New Dam Project | Armidale NSW | October 2019

A new 20mgl water security project for the ultra premium super-fine merino fleece producer in Australia and 3 time winner of the premium global Ermenegildo Zegna fine wool award.

Zegna is unique in the men’s fashion world for owning 100% of its supply chain. Ermenegildo Zegna spins ultrafine merino wool from farms in Australia and New Zealand, to create a fabric unlike any other.

This Zegna award winning 1300 acre property is located in near Armidale NSW

New dam project. Esk QLD

New before and after concepts for a 5 dam multi-month 200 mega-litre build for a drought stricken 2000 acre property at Esk in outback QLD.

Droughts might be the way of the future, but there will always be one-off events – and a successful water security strategy will be capturing, and holding, as much rain as possible from those one-off events.

This project will also involve a significant evaporation management strategy involving covering all water surfaces with organic water plants such as lillies and lotuses to reduce evaporation losses by up to 70%. This is what evolved water strategy in the age of climate change looks like