You could use it as a water feature, however they do require maintenance . Consider using it as a planter with a shade tree. OR remove it and fill it in with stained concrete.

pond

It could still be a fountain -- the electricity would power the fountain and you would have to fill it
from a hose nearby. Maybe???

Thank you all so much. I am intrigued by the idea of removing it and staining the concrete. (I had to look it up, BTW.) I suppose we'll have to find out more what is INSIDE the thing (electricity? piping).Or, making it a planter with colorful plants.

I'm guessing it is a unfinished fountain if it has electricity. It would not be that hard to make it fountain that squirts up from the middle. You may have to cut away a 1"x1" channel and a couple holes through the side for the water return and piping to the center and put the pump on the outside (They are not big) The sound of water in the back yard cannot be beat for a relaxing atmosphere. If you remove it you will have a circle showing on the concrete unless you resurface the whole patio. You just fill it and let it recirculate. Top it up once in while. Birds love it too.

is it cement in the center or just hard packed earth? I know a lot of mid-century houses had planters similar to this in the front or backyards. It would be pretty with some xeriscape plantings and a light to show them off at night.

A water feature or pond would be more striking, and once they're set up, maintenance isn't all that hard. If you prefer a garden, the electrical connection could still be used for lighting. Before you rip it out, remember that raised gardens require less kneeling, and you can fill it with high quality weed free topsoil, so it's a great way to get your hands dirty (so to speak) if you haven't gardened before.

You could use it as a planter and fill it with a mixture of herbs and flowers so it would be ornamental and edible. Some lighting could add drama in the evenings. And if you put some copper sheeting over the brick at the bottom that would stop slugs from getting into your herb garden. They don't cross anything made of copper because it shocks them, so it makes for good pesticide-free pest control.

Dependent upon where it is actually located, it could make a great fire pit

It might work as a base for something sculptural. But you would need something large scale for it to work.

is it big enough to put a curved bench on it ? with potted bamboo behind - will make a cosy seating area ?! or one of those copper tree water features maybe ? looks like it would benefit from finishing the outer brick circle if going for second option! :-)

Turn it into a Japanese zen garden....

I'm not sure but I don't think a recirculating electric fountain requires water hookup.

http://houzz.com/photos/441400

http://houzz.com/photos/1553085

You could make it into a large fire pit feature. Place an electronic ignition system with stainless steel burner ring, then fill with special rocks or fire glass.
http://www.starfiredirect.com/

Make it a planter and put a tree you love surrounded by lower plants and flowers, then use the existing electric to hook up landscape lighting. If you're not a fan of the brick color you can always paint it. Next to this big ring you could build a smaller ring for a fire pit and chairs to hang out under your big tree!

Judging by your pics, I assume you're in an area where irrigation is the norm. Is there irrigation run to this thing? If not, and you opt to use it as a planter, be sure to consider how you'll water it. A masonry planter in the middle of a slab is going to soak up heat like no one's business.

Also make sure there's drainage, if you're going to use it as a planter. All that water's gotta go somewhere :)

Ask your neighbour if he would know what the previous owner used it for?

With the palm trees in the background, it looks like you're in Florida, so you won't get much use out of a fire pit. The depth is too shallow for planting, the tropical sun will cook your plants. So creating a fountain as a refreshing water feature is the way to go. But you will want to install some sort of tall sculpture that will add height and allow the water trickle down the outside of the sculpture. . If you attempt to just have the water shooting up, the wind will blow the water outside the pool. Add glass rocks on the bottom around the sculpture - the colors will be beautiful when lit at night. You can definitely turn this "thing" into a striking backyard feature!

Wow, I just pulled that same image to post Rita, isn't it lovely? :)

I think it's the base for a more elaborate fountain where the water would overflow into a reflecting pond. Why don't you ask the neighbors what it was? I'm certain they'll know and that could give you some direction if removal is preferred.

Snap, mforr! Thanks, River Valley. Isn't it amazing what wonderful things people do?

Swanage is 20mins down the road from me !!! Will have to go and check this out in person ! Loos a fab idea for in this spot !!

Really does look good, doesn't it? Would be kind of cool if you could put in a recirculating pump that just bubbles up out of the center, so the fish would look as if they were sparkling and dancing under water, with drainage at the sides to a reservoir underneath, that would be very, very cool. :)

Love that idea !!

Longoni, that's wonderful! Chance is a fine thing. I do hope it inspires you. Good luck! and yes I so agree with water bubbling over the fish. Nice, mforr.

Thanks you two! :)

It could have been a hot tub base - thinking of that possibility because of the step on one side and the electrical connection.

I think you're right on the money jagood. Exactly what it looks like. :)

I would imagine that part of it was subterranean, just filled in with sand by someone else later. The steps would be for the easy entry into one side of it. Or not ;)

Thanks, everyone! What great ideas! I will have to ponder...

Oh, and we're in Southern California, hence the palms.

Do they have power to it? It looks like a fountain, but maybe use it as a fire pit. Just add a big round one in center.you could then fill bottom with sand. Place chairs around it and enjoy.

Very likely it contained a palm tree which was removed or fell down. Check google earth for historical pictures of the address -- they have satellite images of the house over time. There is electricity so that they could power christmas lights or strings of lights/lanterns for parties.

Alternatively, there are round hot tubs / spas. Perhaps there was one in there?

If it was a hot tub base it has water to it so that should be able to work for new irrigation or a fountain. You can't use it for a firepit if it has no gas to it ... and that would be one mighty large firepit. I might take it out and put in a paving artwork. If you need a landscape designer I'm located in the Los Angeles are and am able to help with your landscape design questions.

One thing for sure it has to go, it really doesn't matter what it's original function was it's now redundant. Get rid of it and put your patio furniture out and ponder as to it's purpose.

Agreed! Remove it asap. Cheers!

If it weren't for the location I would say put a bubbler and some beautiful planting around it, But it is right in the middle of your yard. It is a shame to waste the electrical access, but I would have to say remove it.

Have you decided what to do? It seems to me it is in prime real estate as far as entertaining in the backyard, so unless you don't entertain outdoors, and just want something pretty to look at (in which case you can add back in a fountain or sculpture there), removing it gives you more room for gathering with friends. Once it's gone I doubt you will miss it.

Thanks! We ended up buying a different property in the same town. I think the sellers (flippers) of that place took it off the market and rented it instead.