About Flowforms - the world's most unique water features
We are pleased that you are interested in the source of Flowforms. Here we will reveal their origin, which began with EDRI, or the Ecological Design Research Institute. Additionally, Designs for Life enables us to reach customers worldwide with catalog and custom designs. In addition to the information provided here, we are happy to answer your specific questions. Simply contact us! What is a Flowform? Created for hilltops and tabletops, Flowforms encompass an array of water fountains and waterfalls designed by an elite body of environmental sculpture artists. Prized for their artistic form and functional value, each Flowform water sculpture encompasses technical, artistic, psychological, and ecological elements in perpetuating the flow of water. English inventor and sculptor John Wilkes originated the Flowform Principle in 1970 as an ecologically sound method to revitalize water. Restoring water’s life-sustaining properties, the process streams water through a repeating figure-of-eight, rhythmical flow path so that oxygenation and clarification occur. The swirling action, in fact, is reminiscent of the manner in which blood flows through the heart in order to absorb a fresh supply of oxygen, which then travels to cells throughout the body. Working and sculpting alongside John Wilkes in the 1970s, Iain Trousdell, our master designer, has influenced the spread of Flowform waterfall sculptures from Europe to America, Australia, Japan, India, Taiwan and the Pacific Islands. The continuum of applications ranges from industrial to private; from drainage resolution to desired relaxation. As a result, our waterfalls and water fountains have been contracted by commercial and government groups as well as by private individuals. For specific answers to your questions about Flowforms, please contact us. Would you like to learn more about our latest research and designs? We are pleased to extend a flow of information to anyone in the mainstream who is interested. Simply sign up for our Complimentary Newsletter! If you are ecologically minded and would like to become a member of EDRI, our research arm without charge, simply contact us today. We would also be happy to answer your questions about ecological water solutions, research, design options, and funding opportunities. Ecological Design Research Institute Ecological Design Research Institute or EDRI was founded in 1988 after John Wilkes, the English inventor and sculpture who originated the Flowform concept, visited New Zealand. The present trustees of our foundation are Doug Green, Alison Ryder and Iain Trousdell. John's visit generated a burst of initiative, and a 210-acre farm was purchased in Hawkes Bay. One aim was to find a centre to build an institute building for research and design into rhythmical fluid properties. The second was to produce and sell Flowforms and any other rhythmical/fluid related technology. (Design for Life was also launched at this time as a limited liability company with the objective to build a business which sustains research, design and overall funding of EDRI.) EDRI owned the farm for over 14 years. By 2001, the small amount of land left to us was worth several times over what was originally paid for the whole property. The sections were further subdivided and sold with the purpose of creating a permanent income stream for all further work. In order to accomplish our purpose, we have investigated many alternative methods of producing Flowforms, the most successful being slipcast ceramics, glass casting and Specific Position Rotational Moulding (SPRM) of in high profile stone-effect polyesters. With such options available, we are now able to expand exporting beyond NZ in order to fund EDRI and also John Wilkes' Flow Design Research Institute in UK. During the 1990s several projects of note have been completed by EDRI: - The Flowforms designed by Iain were modified and additional ones added, meaning the creation of over 20 new Flowforms in New Zealand.
- Some films were made on Flowforms and a Goethean view of the formative influence of water in nature. Many articles in papers, along with some radio and TV interviews, have generated interest and publicity.
- Many talks and lectures were given at conferences throughout Australasia.
- Networking with Maori wisdom holders, we compared European and Polynesian perceptions of water, and considered how water could be upgraded from waimate to waiora, through movement in Flowforms.
- Through many conversations with a wide range of water consultants we have gathered extensive questions about water as a basis for our research program into the future. We are keen to extend these and enter into conversations about the issues.
- Biodynamic research work has been carried out, with the use of Flowforms for stirring Preparations, which are catalytic converters for soil health. It is safe to say, that NZ leads the world in this, with over 80 agricultural properties covering 15,000 acres using Flowforms in this function since 1979, many with Demeter status.
- Educational Outreach: contact was made with other organic agricultural method groups, and valuable Flowform research started in India through our gifting of Flowforms to Biodynamic groups there.
- We also gifted numerous Flowforms to groups active in Australia, many of which have been used in pioneering ecology treatment projects there.
- We have started interesting work in plant growth stimulated through irrigation by Flowform treated water.
- We have developed a successful working system for Flowform-treated dairy shed effluent, which is being transformed into high quality pasture fertiliser.
- We have recreated Victor Schauberger's Energy Bodies (we call them Riverfins) in a 1:25 mathematically scaled river prototype, which had significant results potentially solving an existing, specific highway and farm erosion problem. The successful scale model trials were not developed into full-scale prototypes because of government funding restrictions.
- We have developed Fishladder intellectual property based on water flowing downwards upstream.
Our aim has been to awaken people to the vital importance and beauty of water with the hope this would engender a desire to care for it and nature more practically. Having been promoted in New Zealand for almost three decades through various media—including television—Flowforms have noticed considerable growth in awareness, and awareness of the word Flowforms is widespread. At the end of 2000, Iain retired from teaching in order to concentrate on the Flow Design Research work. Additionally, EDRI has carefully invested monies from the sale of the farm to develop its commercial arm, Design for Life, into an international production, export and design business. This is now servicing customers around the world, with excited interest from distributors to join the team, particularly in Asia.
Our Ecology Design Research Institute is creating a networking series of conversations about the nature of water, and modern issues concerning its quality. Our group invites anyone to partake in this. We intend to make this website the vehicle for such interaction in order to address questions and concerns in hopes of gaining solutions.
The Ecological Design Research Institute encourages anyone in the world wanting to become a member (at no cost) to contact us.
Designs for Life
Designs for Life, created at the inception of our research institute, serves as our marketing arm for Flowforms. Additionally, Designs for Life generates the revenue required to fund the Ecological Design Research Institute (or EDRI), the ultimate goal of our work.
With innovative materials that are lightweight, aesthetically pleasing, and durable, we are not restricted to building fountains with stone. Consequently, Flowforms ship across the globe at affordable rates.
Whether you are seeking a large-scale solution with aesthetic and environmental benefits or the simple peace and tranquility of a tabletop fountain, we are eager to share the natural secrets of Flowforms. Please visit our online showroom or contact us for details.
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