There’s something deeply human about the way we respond to water—its movement, its sound, its invitation to engage. In public space, water offers more than refreshment or play. It becomes a memory-maker, a cultural touchpoint and a powerful design tool.
For Shane Vardy, Aquatic Specialist at Atlantis Liquid Dynamics, crafting immersive splashparks and water features isn’t about spectacle. It’s about creating something meaningful—customised spaces that tell stories, evoke wonder and work just as well below the surface as they do above it.
“In the best projects, water behaves like it does in nature,” Shane says. “It’s not just about jets and misters—it’s about mimicking cascades, flow, rhythm. And it has to feel right in the space. That takes real integration between story, design and engineering.”
In this article, Shane shares his perspective on the rise of customisation in aquatic spaces, the critical path from design to delivery and why preserving design intent takes more than good intentions.
Custom Comes with Complexity
Customisation is fast becoming the expectation in public realm design. Councils and design professionals across Australia are seeking water features and splashparks that
reflect local identity, connect with Country and create lasting impact. But according to Shane, many underestimate what’s actually involved.
“There’s this idea that you can take a concept sketch and hand it straight to a builder,” he says. “But when it comes to aquatic design, what you see on the surface is just the tip of the iceberg.”
When the design to delivery process isn’t clearly understood, the result is all too familiar: scope creep, cost blowouts and compromised outcomes. The problem often surfaces during procurement, when original designs are simplified in the name of value-management.
“People often assume the cost is all in the water features, but that’s only about 10% of a typical splashpark budget,” Shane explains. “The real investment is below ground—in the civils, slab work, pipework, tanks, plantrooms, services and everything else that makes the surface features run safely and efficiently.”
But it doesn’t stop there; the biggest consideration is water quality. “You not only have to meet state health guidelines, but you also have a responsibility to provide a safe and hassle-free asset for the project owner and community as a whole,” Shane says.
“We see it all the time—beautiful, original concepts get watered down during tender because people don’t fully understand the systems or design requirements,” he continues. “You can’t preserve the intent if you haven’t designed the pathway to deliver it.”
Bring Water to Life
For Shane, biophilic design isn’t a buzzword—it’s a design response rooted in experience. Natural water movement—tidal ebbs, cascading falls, responsive flow—can transform a space from functional to immersive.
“When we use actuated valves with sequenced control systems to mimic natural flow, you’re not just turning water on and off,” Shane says. “You’re creating an experience that changes how people feel in the space.”
Water also becomes a storytelling tool. Through custom design, cultural narratives, environmental themes and site histories can be woven into the feature itself—engaging users on a deeper level.
“Water has always carried story. So, when we’re working with clients who want to honour a site’s history or reflect local identity, we can help turn that into something physical, sensory and lasting.”
From Design to Delivery—the Critical Path
While design is the creative spark, it’s the delivery process that determines whether the original intent survives.
“Custom design needs a mapped process—concept development, detailed design, product development including engineering analysis, water delivery effects, servicing, risk planning…”
As Shane explains, aquatic features sit at the intersection of creative vision and complex systems. When those systems aren’t fully understood by contractors and the asset operator delivery teams, it’s easy for small changes to derail the whole experience.
Lessons from the Field
With more than 20 years’ experience in the aquatics field, Shane knows how nuanced and site-specific these projects can become. Whether navigating community expectations, urban constraints or shifting stakeholder priorities, one thing remains consistent: early collaboration matters.
“Custom doesn’t mean complicated for the sake of it—it means considered,” he says. “And when you take the time to coordinate across disciplines and stay involved through construction, you get outcomes that really last.”
Final Reflections
For Shane, it’s the outcomes that matter most. The joy, the connection, the simple magic of people engaging with water in public space.
“We recently commissioned a new splashpark in a rural community and invited the local schoolkids in for a pre-opening,” he recalls. “I was soaking wet, running around adjusting the flows, when a young girl tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Hey mister, thanks for our new splashpark. I love it.’”
Moments like that, he says, make it all worthwhile.
Join the Conversation
As expectations grow for immersive, culturally resonant public spaces, water continues to be one of the most powerful tools in the designer’s kit. But delivering those outcomes requires clear intent and a willingness to do the work that goes beyond the concept.
Whether you’re designing your first splashpark or managing a complex custom project, we’d love to hear from you.
