Choose from Countless Outdoor Wall Fountain Styles

Depending on your needs, you can select from mounted or freestanding types. Small, self-contained models can be placed on a wall are known as mounted wall fountains. Wall fountains made of resin (resembling stone) or fiberglass are typically lightweight so they can be easily hung. Stand-alone 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. There are no weight constraints on these sorts of cast stone water features.

It is a good idea to incorporate a custom-made fountain into a new or existing wall, something often recommended by landscape experts. Hiring an expert mason is your best option to construct the basin and install the necessary plumbing. A fountain mask or a spout also needs to be incorporated into the wall. The unified look provided by custom-made wall fountains make them appear to be part of the landscape rather than an afterthought.

Contemporary Garden Decoration: Garden Fountains and their Roots

The main purpose of a fountain was originally strictly practical. Inhabitants of cities, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash, which meant that fountains had to be connected to nearby aqueduct or spring. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water supply, including aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to benefit from gravity which fed the fountains. Fountains were not only used as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the artist who created it. Roman fountains often depicted images of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. To illustrate the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages added fountains to their designs. Fountains played a considerable role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exert his power over nature. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains made to mark the arrival points of Roman aqueducts.

The end of the nineteenth century saw the rise in usage of indoor plumbing to supply drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to purely decorative elements. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity allowed fountains to deliver recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.

These days, fountains decorate public areas and are used to recognize individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.