The Origins Of Fountains
The Origins Of Fountains
A water fountain is an architectural piece that pours water into a basin or jets it high into the air in order to supply drinkable water, as well as for decorative purposes. The main purpose of a fountain was originally strictly practical. Inhabitants of urban areas, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash up, which meant that fountains had to be linked to nearby aqueduct or spring. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water source, including aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to take advantage of gravity which fed the fountains. Serving as an element of adornment and celebration, fountains also provided clean, fresh drinking water. Roman fountains often depicted images of animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller models of the gardens of paradise. To show his dominance over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. To mark the entryway of the restored Roman aqueducts, the Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries commissioned the building of baroque style fountains in the spot where the aqueducts arrived in the city of Rome
Since indoor plumbing became the standard of the day for fresh, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely ornamental. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity enabled fountains to deliver recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
Nowadays, fountains decorate public spaces and are used to honor individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
A Wall Water Feature to Match Your Design
A Wall Water Feature to Match Your Design Having a wall fountain in your backyard or on a veranda is excellent when you seek to relax. Even a little space can contain a custom-built one. Both the stand alone and mounted versions must have a spout, a water basin, internal tubing, and a pump. You have many styles to a lot to pick from whether you are searching for a traditional, popular, classical, or Asian style. Stand-alone wall fountains, otherwise known as floor fountains, are noticeably big and feature a basin on the ground.
On the other hand, a fountain affixed to a wall can be added onto an existing wall or fit into a new wall. This type of fountain adds to a cohesive look making it seem as if it was part of the landscape rather than an added feature.
Exterior Wall Fountains: The Numerous Styles on the Market
Exterior Wall Fountains: The Numerous Styles on the Market
If you want to create a place to relax as well as add some pizzazz to a small area such as a patio or courtyard, wall fountains are ideal because they do not take up much space. When looking at the many types of outdoor wall fountains available including traditional, vintage, contemporary, or Asian, you are certain to find one most suitable to your design ideas. If you are looking for a distinctive design, a custom-built one can be specially made to meet your specifications. The two types of water features available to you are mounted and stand-alone models. Small, self-contained mounted wall fountains can be hung on any surface. One of the most important features of wall fountains is that they be light, so they are typically made of fiberglass or resin to replicate the look of stone. Free-standing fountains, often referred to as floor fountains, are sizable, have a basin located on the ground and a smooth side which leans against a wall. Typically made of cast stone, these water features have no weight restrictions.
Landscape designers often propose a customized fountain for a brand new or existing wall. A professional mason is necessary to place the water basin against the wall and properly install all the plumbing inside or behind the wall. It is also vital to add a spout or fountain mask to build it into the wall. Customized wall fountains contribute to a unified appearance because they become part of the landscape rather than look like a later addition.
Outdoor Water Features Come in Many Shapes and Sizes
Outdoor Water Features Come in Many Shapes and Sizes Make your dream a reality by creating an haven of tranquility in your garden. Incorporating a fountain into your yard provides tranquility as well as a variety of beneficial effects that come with having a water feature.The stream of water sent high up into the air by a spouting fountain is an impressive sight to see. Sizable, preexisting ponds can effortlessly be fitted with one of these. Esplanades and historical mansions often have one these fountains.
Pick a stylish wall fountain to put outdoors. Even with a smallish yard, it is possible to put in one of these water features. Wall fountains are not flamboyant water features when compared with a spouting fountain. In this straightforward process, water is ejected from a little spout, goes down a wonderfully textured wall, before being recovered at the bottom and returned to the top once again.
Themed fountains are ideal when the look of your garden allows for them. If your cottage or garden is styled in a rustic manner, you should think about including a classic type of statue, such as a seraph holding the spout, to your fountain. Modern-day gardens, on the other hand, benefit from something more audacious. Just allow your imagination to run loose.
Tiered fountains are alluring because the water runs down multiple levels. Due to the water running down its multiple levels, these are also called cascading fountains.
The space required for an outdoor fountain can be considerable, therefore, a better alternative is to install a wall fountain or a pondless fountain. Install one of these fountains if your space is limited since their reservoirs are concealed from sight below ground.
Add a Japanese fountain if you are looking for a feeling of relaxation. Bamboo sticks are utilized in this kind of fountain to expel the water. The cycle of water flowing into a rustic-styled recipient or a molded stone repeats itself again and again.
One of the many designs of fountain around is the glass fountain. Trellis-style fountains of this kind, feature shaped metalwork which provides a more conventional look. Gardens with numerous sharp edges as well as modern shapes and designs are better for these types of water features. As the water flows over the top of the glass it produces a dazzling impact. In some instances, the water is colored by LED lights as it flows over the glass panels. With water softly running down its surface, rock waterfall fountains, often made of fake rock, are a possible option for your garden.
Bubbling rock fountains are large stones drilled with holes which are then filled with pipes in the center. The gurgles and bubbles at the top are the product of the low pressure used to force the water upwards. Flowing towards the base of the fountain, the water returns as a slow dribble down the sides of the rock. Gardens with little space are good spots to include this style of fountain. Water is moved at low pressure in this kind of fountain, so you can rest assured that it will not spray all over should the wind pick up.
The trend of installing solar powered fountains is becoming increasingly prevalent. The advantages of using this type of solar powered fountain is the lack of cables, lowered difficulty in installing them, the decrease in electric bills, and the beneficial effects they have on our environment. There is no need to choose a specific model of outdoor solar-powered fountain because of the wide range of designs available on the market.
A Chronicle of Garden Water Fountains
A Chronicle of Garden Water Fountains Himself a learned man, Pope Nicholas V led the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 till 1455 and was responsible for the translation of hundreds of age-old texts from their original Greek into Latin.
It was important for him to embellish the city of Rome to make it worthy of being called the capital of the Christian world. Beginning in 1453, the ruined ancient Roman aqueduct known as the Aqua Vergine which had brought fresh drinking water into the city from eight miles away, underwent restoration at the behest of the Pope. Building a mostra, an imposing celebratory fountain built by ancient Romans to memorialize the arrival point of an aqueduct, was a tradition revived by Nicholas V. At the bidding of the Pope, architect Leon Battista Alberti began the construction of a wall fountain in the place where we now find the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain as well as the well-known baroque fountains found in the Piazza del Popolo and the Piazza Navona were eventually supplied with water from the modified aqueduct he had rebuilt.