About Aqua Foundry
A small studio designing and building living water features that endure—treated as functional art, overseen personally from concept to installation.
The Studio
Aqua Foundry is a hands-on design and build studio specializing in bespoke aquascapes, paludariums, koi ponds, and reef installations. We work with homeowners, architects, interior designers, and hospitality clients to create living water features that integrate thoughtfully into their spaces and live well within their care capacity.
Every project—from the smallest planted tank to a landscape-scale pond installation—is designed and overseen personally. We don't hand work off to subcontractors or treat commissions as transactions. You're building with the maker.
Background & Expertise
The studio was founded on more than fifteen years of competitive freshwater aquascaping, horticulture, and pond ecology. That includes hands-on competition experience in planted-tank design, deep knowledge of filtration engineering and water chemistry, and a background rooted equally in botany and traditional craftsmanship.
This cross-disciplinary foundation—understanding both the living ecosystem and how to build and finish the containment itself—shapes how we approach every commission. A planted aquascape isn't just decorative; it's a stable, self-sustaining environment. A koi pond isn't ornamental water; it's habitat design. We build with that clarity.
How We Work With Clients
We begin every project with close consultation. We listen to what draws you to a living water feature, how the space will be used, and what kind of presence you want—whether that's the meditative depth of a densely planted tank, the movement and personality of koi, or the vibrant intricacy of a reef.
We'll be direct about maintenance requirements, sourcing, and timeline. We work with interior designers and architects to ensure the feature fits the room. We work with homeowners to make sure daily care matches your actual life. We work with hospitality operators to create a feature that impresses guests without demanding unrealistic attention.
The result is a water feature that you'll actually live with, rather than one that frustrates you.
Standards We Hold
Sourcing & Ecology
All livestock and plants are responsibly sourced. We prioritize aquaculture-bred species, avoid wild-caught where sustainable alternatives exist, and vet suppliers for ethical practice. Long-term ecological stability trumps short-term visual drama.
Materials & Craft
We specify durable, non-toxic materials—premium glass, stainless steel hardware, natural stone, sustainably harvested hardwoods. Every piece is finished to last decades, not seasons.
Realistic Care
We design features that thrive under the maintenance schedule you'll actually keep. A neglected masterpiece is just a liability. We set expectations honestly and build accordingly.
Transparency
We explain what you're choosing—the labor involved, the cost drivers, the ongoing care—so you understand what you're investing in and why.
Where We Work
We take on residential commissions throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, with travel for larger installations. We work with architects and designers integrating living water features into new construction and renovation. We build for hospitality venues—hotels, restaurants, galleries, wellness spaces—where a feature becomes part of the guest experience.
If you're considering a commission, whether it's a living wall tank for a study, a planted aquascape for a hotel lobby, or a koi pond for a courtyard, we'd like to hear from you. Start a conversation on our commission page.