I can’t read much of the wording on the drawings and can’t figure out where the street is, though I found the entry. Can you post drawings with better resolution in the comments?

In a home where the entry is hidden, the path to the door needs to be wide and clearly a path to the main door. Somehow a pond and bridge doesn’t seem to convey this message.

”I suspect nothing will grow if I try landscaping.“

Why do you suspect nothing will grow? Does the architect have front elevations? There are plants that will grow in most situations. Where are you (nearest large city) and what is your USDA growing zone?

If you're in snow country, I wonder about a concrete pond. It's done all the time in FL, but we don't have the fluctuations in weather.

I'm in the PNW, and I don't see concrete ponds here, I assume because of the freezing risk (ours usually freeze at least once a winter). Ours are done with a liner system that is generally a dark material. Perhaps talk to a landscaper about what the norm is there?

That said, in snow country this seems like an odd choice - won't it be frozen quite a bit? It seems like that would detract from the look you're planning.

Have ever had a water feature and are familiar with the strict routine required for maintenance?

If it was my house, I'd gravel it...!

It is impossible to make any reasonable suggestions without a photo of the area in question. The drawing is just not sufficient to convey how sheltered or tucked away this area might be or if a pond and bridge is even a logical approach.

And we also need to know where on the planet this will be located.

I'm a fan of the dry riverbed look, which can even have a bridge or boardwalk across it as you show, to give the same effect without the maintenance issues. If the sound of running water is important to you, you can pair it with what my family calls a "gurgling rock" style water feature at one end. My mom has this by her side door and it's really great. It also doesn't have to be turned off in the winter very often (unlike others she has) because the water circulates continuously which protects it from freezing. If you're interested I can get a picture of hers later today, but in the mind time here are a few images of the general idea.

Bubbling Rocks & Urns/Vases · More Info

Dry-Creek Riverbed · More Info

Dry Riverbed Garden · More Info

Lovers Point · More Info

Warner · More Info

If I'm understanding correctly, it would be necessary to enter and exit the front door via a bridge? If so, visualize moving heavy, bulky furniture and appliances through the area; visitors using wheelchairs, canes or walkers; paramedics moving someone from the house to an ambulance; someone trying to maintain a pond from the side of a bridge; construction workers staging and hauling equipment and supplies in and out of the house. Don't get me wrong -- it could be very cool. Just make sure the design, materials and maintenance plans consider many different scenarios. Good luck with your new home.

P.S. Shade gardens and courtyard gardens can be fabulous! Don't rule them out too quickly.

It's a unique and cool idea. Random thoughts:

- If you do this, I'd be sure to place it so that it could be viewed from the living room or dining room. It's going to take effort to build /maintain, so I'd want to view it on a regular basis.

- I'd aim for a combination of the dry river bed and a SMALL pond. Less to maintain, you know.

- Do consider water lilies. They're super-easy to grow and very "show-y".

The build is in zone 8. It can go below freezing but not often and it doesn't stay below freezing long enough to freeze a body of water. The water will be 1' deep. There's a strict list of plants I can plant and none of them are shade loving type.

@NHBabs, The street is upper left corner in the second picture. The drawing file is huge and I can't separate the couple of relevant pages. You can't see the bridge or the pond until you are at the entrance.

@skivista Wonderful pictures. I will get pumps to circulate water and filtration system. I am hoping with a powerful pump algae can be contained.

@Virgil Yes, I have a pond in my current home. Ii is a bit of pain.

@gardengal48. It is not built yet. I am afraid I won't have pictures for some time.

@Kristin Dry river bed! Interesting idea. I am assuming you mean to have river rocks come up to the foundation line. I don't need a gurgling sound but I'd like to have water. I won't have a fountain just pumps.

@einportlandor Good point. The bridge can be installed after the construction is done. It will be 4' wide. I think that's decent width.

@Mrs Pete, It will be at the entrance. You get to see coming and going and from one of the hallway. Water lilies are not allowed. What I can plant is strictly limited.

Why is what you plant restricted?

And comments about accessing the entry only via a bridge are very valid. At the very least.....for all the reasons einportlandor mentioned.......it should be a secondary access, not the only or primary one.

I did a sink replacement in a home with a bridged koi pond at the front entrance atrium. It was a very nice space, but ironically the homeowner had the koi pond guys there when I was and was playing with his water test kit when I left. Very impressive; lots of work.

Will your bridge be something like this?

This is the Chicago Botanic Garden, the bridge to the Japanese island garden. It is offset to prevent evil spirits from following you onto the island, as they like straight paths.

In the 50-60s, my childhood friend's house has a pond along the garage leading up to the house, with fish, under a partially open overhang. It was really nifty. I can't recall the color. The current owners have it as a dry garden.

You could have a dry bed, with a water feature in it.

Yes, it will be offset, a bit like that. Not because of evil spirits. Two reasons; part of the house is made of boxes stacked together. Offset bridge is kinda repeating it. Also, Straight would be diagonal and it didn't work well.

Hey, whatever keeps evil spirits out! (be sure the overlap is comfortable; the jog on this bridge freaks me out a bit every time I go over it. Hmm, could I be an evil spirit?)

Yup, that would be a bonus! Yes, it is 4' everywhere on the bridge including the jog. To show more water, I may add ears at the jog and make the bridge with two 4'x4' squares rather than the current layout. of two rectangles 4'x6'ish.

It's an interesting idea! I have a small fishpond in my back garden. It has a heavy plastic lining and it totally "natural" - no pumps, filters etc. It's pretty maintenance free other than having the pond company come every two years and clean out all the leaves/muck in the bottom. I have a huge tree in my backyard. I don't do koi - can't have plants with them as they eat them, plus they're very expensive. I just buy a few feeder goldfish (usually about 15cents each) every few years. Bought my last 6 about 3 years ago, and they're all still alive and growing. I don't feed them - they eat the mosquito larvae and that keeps them down in my garden. I have waterlilies planted in the pond. It is 2ft deep at the deepest point. It was built with a wide ledge all the way around (about 4" below water, and steps from the deepest to the shallowest. This was for pets. Alas, I still lost a 15 year old dog who lost his balance and fell into it. One gulp and he was gone. It was devastating. I do put a small wire fence around it in the winter as it freezes over and I have one small dog who thinks she's a figure skater. I do NOT need a dog falling through the ice!! It keeps her out.

Anglo - I’m fascinated by your fish life span. Our neighbors had a pond like that and gave up stocking it because it became an all-you-can-eat buffet for the (very pleased) raccoons. They tried everything to keep them out with no success.

@Mrs Pete, It will be at the entrance. You get to see coming and going and from one of the hallway.

I'm voting "not enough". If you go to the trouble to create this fabulous thing, I think it should be visible from one of your main public rooms.

Water lilies are not allowed. What I can plant is strictly limited.

Do you mean limited by your climate?

And comments about accessing the entry only via a bridge are very valid. At the very least.....for all the reasons einportlandor mentioned.......it should be a secondary access, not the only or primary one.

That's a good point. I'd want this to be the main entrance /also the entrance you'd use every day yourself ... but, yes, you should have a "back door" entrance that can be used for the day you have a new dishwasher delivered, or the day that you have your bathroom remodeled and tile men are walking in/out 100 Xs.

I did a sink replacement in a home with a bridged koi pond at the front entrance atrium. It was a very nice space, but ironically the homeowner had the koi pond guys there when I was and was playing with his water test kit when I left. Very impressive; lots of work.

I have goldfish in my backyard pond ... they are very little work (I've literally never monitored their water, and they stay out all winter; admittedly I live in NC where winter averages 40-50 degrees), though you should allow them enough depth /enough plant life to escape from critters who think you're providing a seafood buffet.

It is offset to prevent evil spirits from following you onto the island, as they like straight paths.

I do hope no one's actually afraid of evil spirits.

When there is a restricted list of plants-- you can appeal. Have a landscape architect submit a list of plants he considers optimal for your entrance. Ask him to evaluate the permitted offerings. You need a variance based on solid reasoning.

@dan It is not worth the bother. I like the pond filled with water. I can have a glass front door matching the water :)

@Mrs Pete, I will have enough view in the house.

I am still wondering how to transition from pond concrete to colored stucco. I am thinking it will be 1.5' deep with water 1' deep.Any ideas? Shall I extend stucco 0.5' to the water level but leave the rest natural concrete?

Kristen, no problem with raccoons, but my garden is fenced, but more likely it’s due to me having dogs. There certainly are raccoons in the neighborhood. My biggest problem has been with frogs which then attract snakes. Only happened one time but that was enough for me!

' There's a strict list of plants I can plant and none of them are shade loving type. '

I have 'never' heard of an HOA with that kind of restriction before! IMO......that's going waaaaaaay too far!

Water features require regularly scheduled monthly maintenance in order to maintain the water feature, prevent algae, and clean of up accumulated debris.

Since you have said you will only occupy the house for a few months will you have a maintenence company care for the water feature year 'round?

I guess so. I like having water there. That feels having glass front door less weird.

That's a large annual expense for a few month occupancy and having the glass front door less weird.

For only a few months occupancy I would have thought you would have valued a reduced maintenance and upkeep house.

Unless I can see a clear plan (or better yet, actual photos) of how this pond w/bridge will be sited with respect to the entry, I am still of the opinion that this is not a great idea. Especially in a home that will only be occupied periodically.

Other than screwing up easy and convenient egress - which it WILL do for a primary entry - it will be a continual maintenance headache and most likely just a breeding ground for mosquitos.

Glass doors are not at all uncommon with contemporary residential architecture so have no idea why they should feel "weird".

I would go for a pondless/disappearing water fall or the likes instead of a pond. Nice to look at, nice sounds, and you can turn it off when not using.

It seems that a water feature with no fish and no aquatic plants would be easiest.

Fish and plants need care.

@emmarene9, the pond in your picture has a liner or something up to the water line. The white concrete doesn't extend to below the water line. It looks good. I could do the same have the wall stucco stop at the water line.