Water: if you live by the harbour, river or oceanfront, you are considered a lucky Australian. Not only will your home be more valuable but proximity to the water will afford you lifestyle advantages denied to your land-locked neighbours. But beyond the water bodies that occur naturally in our cities, water when used as a design feature in the urban environment – from the humblest fountain to man-made lakes – can have a tranquil and calming effect on our lives. One of our dry nation’s most valuable commodities, water never fails to engage the senses. But in developing our towns and cities, have our planners and architects used the power of water to lift the human spirit as effectively as other societies throughout history? Listen to The wonder of water in urban design from the ABC Radio National “By Design” program.