Project Plans and Inspirations: Naturalism

For my main project, I’m creating a self-contained river environment that functions as both a sculptural piece and living terrarium. This project aims to capture the essence of a natural stream while serving as a functional art object for interior spaces. Water continuously circulates through an aquarium filter, flowing across carefully arranged rocks and aquatic plants within a clear acrylic housing. At its core, this piece represents a slice of nature you can bring into your home.

My aesthetic approach is rooted in naturalism, drawing inspiration from contemporary aquascaping and terrarium design. A key influence is SerpaDesign on YouTube, where Tanner Serpa creates sophisticated paludariums and biotope aquariums that balance visual composition with environmental authenticity. What makes his work stand out is the tension between natural development and deliberate design. This is something I’m incorporating into my own project as well. His resources have been invaluable for understanding flow dynamics, filtration systems, and substrate layering.

Beyond SerpaDesign, I’m influenced by Japanese rock gardens and bonsai techniques, where form, texture, and asymmetrical balance shape spatial perception. These principles guide my approach to stone and plant arrangement. I’m also drawing from Isamu Noguchi’s stone and water installations, particularly his method of framing natural elements within architectural contexts. The interplay between raw materials and refined forms creates a compelling visual dialogue I’m striving to capture. Additionally, I’ve studied minimalist terrariums and Scandinavian design for insights on clean presentation.

This piece functions as a kinetic sculpture, a miniature “living river.” The flowing water adds an auditory element, while the stones, mosses, and aquatic plants provide texture and life. The transparent acrylic allows viewing from all angles, creating a diorama-like experience. I’ll conceal the pump and tubing beneath the substrate to maintain visual harmony. My design priorities include: sustained water flow at the right velocity, watertight construction, naturalistic composition, and a contemporary housing that complements modern interiors. While not intended as a complete ecosystem for fish, the installation aims to evoke the contemplative quality of natural water features.

During development, I explored several alternative aesthetics before settling on naturalism. I considered a cyberpunk approach with LED elements and synthetic plants, but this shifted focus from texture and flow to lighting effects. I also explored a brutalist design using architectural concrete with geometric elements, which offered dramatic impact but risked feeling unwelcoming. Another concept involved a whimsical, narrative driven approach with fantasy elements, but this idea came too close to conventional diorama construction. Ultimately, naturalism proved most conceptually sound and technically appropriate, allowing creative exploration while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic.

I’ve completed preliminary schematics defining the overall form and water pathways. These drawings address critical elements like water levels, plant placement, and maintenance access. The current dimensions are approximately 18 inches wide, 6 inches deep, and 8 inches tall, though I’m still refining these measurements.

For materials, I’ve selected clear acrylic sheets in 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch thicknesses for the structure, along with aquarium-grade silicone for waterproofing. A Fluval pump will drive water circulation, which I’ve already tested in preliminary setups. I’ve sourced river stones, weathered driftwood, and aquatic plants including Anubias and Java fern. Some materials I found locally, while others required specialized ordering. All elements have been chosen for low maintenance and visual consistency with temperate stream environments.

So far, I’ve cut preliminary acrylic panels and tested the silicone sealant for adhesion and water resistance. I’ve also prototyped filtration routes and flow patterns that mimic natural streams rather than conventional circulation. Next, I’ll cut the final housing components, apply sealant with appropriate curing time, and conduct thorough water testing. Once the structure is sound, I’ll build the riverbed through careful substrate layering and stone placement before adding plants.

My production timeline is structured yet flexible: Week 1 focused on research and conceptual sketching. Week 2 covered layout development and flow testing. I’m currently in Week 3, working on acrylic fabrication and silicone application. Week 4 will involve assembly and waterproofing validation. Week 5 is for environmental composition and adding plants. Week 6 will focus on flow calibration and documenting how well all the new plants/moss are doing. Week 7 involves final photography and project analysis. Week 8 serves as contingency time for refinements or replacements. Each phase includes material acquisition, documentation, and adjustments as needed.

My fabrication process follows this sequence: First, finalizing dimensions with attention to mechanical integration and maintenance access. Second, cutting acrylic components and assembling them with aquarium-grade silicone, allowing a minimum 48-hour curing period. Third, conducting pressure testing to verify seal integrity. Fourth, installing the circulation system with concealed tubing, using silicone and gaskets for waterproofing. Fifth, creating the riverbed through strategic layering of materials and positioning stones and wood to guide water flow and create visual depth. Sixth, introducing plants with precision placement tools. Finally, fine-tuning flow dynamics, making compositional adjustments, and finishing exterior details with polished edges and possibly subtle lighting.

This project builds on my existing fabrication skills while expanding my technical knowledge. I have experience with acrylic work and structural assembly, though creating permanently waterproof enclosures is a new challenge requiring additional research and testing. I’m also developing expertise in micro-hydraulics and environmental design understanding how water interacts with landscape at small scale, optimizing flow patterns around obstacles, and integrating mechanical components without compromising aesthetics.

The end goal is a refined interpretation of nature, a contemplative, living installation that brings organic energy into interior spaces. Whether placed on a shelf or near a window, it creates a connection to natural processes within domestic or professional environments. Even if certain technical elements need adjustment, the visual integrity of the piece should remain compelling. Rather than pursuing perfect replication, this project aims to capture the meditative quality of observing flowing water in nature and translating that sensory experience into an accessible, contained form.

**All Images generated by Chatgpt**