Aquascaping and interior design

Translated from German with AI assistance and reviewed by our editors.

You could probably fill entire volumes on what exactly aquascaping is and what it is not. Is aquascaping a form of art or of design? My teacher at the vocational high school for design explained it quite simply: art can express something, but unlike design, it has no practical function. Now you could argue about whether an aquascape has a function in the practical sense. Why do we put an aquarium in our own four walls? The answer to that is multilayered too, but in contrast to biotope aquariums, the flawless design of the landscape is in any case the focus. An aquascape is meant to make my home more beautiful. This is where aquarium and interior design come together, or, in German, "Innenarchitektur" or "Raumausstattung".

Design fundamentals and the use of selected materials

Whether Iwagumi, jungle layout or "Nature Aquarium", all aquascapes are set up according to design fundamentals such as the golden ratio. Originally derived from nature, these are also applied in architecture or, indeed, in interior design. The company ADA, with its founder Takashi Amano, who passed away in 2015, was a pioneer here and quite literally the first to think "outside the box", also putting thought into the design of the aquarium and everything around it, such as the cabinet, filter, inflow and outflow. Almost all of the accessories are designed in a very minimalist way and made of stainless steel and glass. These are materials that are often named first when you think of the "Art Deco" interior style, which holds an important place among the styles of interior design. Art Deco continued to develop during the industrial revolution. That is why you also find a lot of glass and stainless steel in the "Industrial Style".

Glass Stand with stainless steel filter from ADA, lamp with aluminum housing from ONF.

Unlike many other manufacturers of aquarium products at the time, ADA set uncompromisingly high standards for the design of its products and has thus become an icon, whose product design has by now been copied, or at least used as a template, by many other companies in the aquascaping market segment.

The effect in the room

Besides having a good view of the aquarium, it has also become more and more important to me how the aquariums look in the room and what effect they have. They bring light into the darker corners of the home, especially in winter. They are also a colorful, fresh contrast to the otherwise rather gray and dreary season. In summer they look refreshing as well! An aquarium stocked with fish in particular can also radiate liveliness and dynamism. It is important to give an aquarium enough space to make an impression. Too many details quickly distract from the aquarium itself. The aquarium should be the center of attention and speak for itself. I would like to show you a good example of the change in my home using the differences in the following pictures:

Before - a lot of books and other things that distract from the aquarium. After - the whole corner is much tidier and therefore looks calmer.

Even though I liked it just as much before, and there is a lot to discover in the picture, everything somehow looked restless and messy. The books have been given a new place and the aquarium speaks for itself.

Before - the white wall looks cool and fresh. After - the dark gray wall brings more warmth and calm into the room without losing clarity.

In a clearly structured, minimalistically furnished home, a detailed aquarium with fine structures can offer a beautiful contrast. You come to rest in front of the aquarium and take plenty of time to discover the details.

At the dining table, your gaze can wander from the comfortable chairs across the vast yet detailed landscape of the aquascape.

In a rather small home, for example, where there is not much space and empty room, a clear and tidy aquascape such as an Iwagumi, on the other hand, can radiate spaciousness and calm.
If you like it very cozy and detailed or very clear and tidy, the respective combination works too, of course. In the end, all that matters is what you like.

Personal development

For me personally, it all started with the wish to set up a cool aquarium myself. At the time, I didn't know exactly how aquascaping is defined. In a much smaller apartment than today, I only had the option of clearing out a spot for one aquarium. In the new, larger apartment, I first took along all the aquariums and the furniture I had repurposed for use as cabinets, and then gradually began to place the aquariums in the apartment with more care. Wherever a piece of furniture had to go, I eventually set up aquariums too, until I noticed that an aquarium in the hallway does trigger a wow effect in visitors, but for me as a resident it really just means work, and I walk past it two to three times a day. In a company headquarters, in an impressive entrance with a waiting area, the aquascape would certainly be better placed than in your hallway, where you just quickly kick off your shoes and hang your jacket on the coat rack. For about a year now, all of my aquascapes have been in the living area. Two large aquariums at the dining table and two smaller ones by the couch. No matter where I am, I have a great view of my aquariums.