Contemporary Garden Decoration: Garden Fountains and their Roots
Contemporary Garden Decoration: Garden Fountains and their Roots
Pure practicality was the original purpose of fountains. Inhabitants of urban areas, townships and small towns used them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash up, which meant that fountains had to be connected to nearby aqueduct or spring. Used until the nineteenth century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their source of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from gravity. Fountains were an optimal source of water, and also served to decorate living areas and memorialize the designer. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often used by Romans to decorate their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to illustrate his dominion over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries manufactured baroque decorative fountains to exalt the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the spot where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
Indoor plumbing became the main source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby restricting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity enabled fountains to bring recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.
Nowadays, fountains adorn public spaces and are used to recognize individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
How Fountains can be Good for the Environment
How Fountains can be Good for the Environment Have you always wanted to enhance the look of your house?
Your monthly electric bill will most likely increase with running water fountains. Even though you might not instantly notice the short-term benefits, remember that your home will certainly gain in value in the long-term.
Higher bills is not the only issue with using more electricity, the environment takes a big hit as well. Solar powered water fountains are a good option to becoming “green”. Using solar energy to heat or cool your home is much better for our planet.
This kind of water fountain doesn't need as much upkeep as others.
These water features need less maintenance than other kinds. Since these do not function using an electric generator that could clog up with clutter, they need little cleaning. And less cleaning means more time to play!
Agrippa’s Magnificent Water-lifting Machine
Agrippa’s Magnificent Water-lifting Machine Though the device developed by Agrippa for raising water gained the respect of Andrea Bacci in 1588, it seemed to fade not long after.