Contemporary Garden Decoration: Garden Fountains and their Roots
Contemporary Garden Decoration: Garden Fountains and their Roots The amazing or decorative effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, in addition to supplying drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property. From the beginning, outdoor fountains were soley there to serve as functional elements. Residents of cities, townships and small towns used them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash, which meant that fountains needed to be linked to nearby aqueduct or spring. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be more elevated and closer to a water supply, such as aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to benefit from gravity which fed the fountains. Acting as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also supplied clean, fresh drinking water. Roman fountains often depicted imagery of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. 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. To mark the entrance 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
The end of the 19th century saw the increase in usage of indoor plumbing to supply drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. The introduction of special water effects and the recycling of water were two things made possible by replacing gravity with mechanical pumps.
These days, fountains adorn public spaces and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
Garden Water Fountain Builders Through History
Garden Water Fountain Builders Through History Often working as architects, sculptors, artists, engineers and cultivated scholars all in one, from the 16th to the late 18th century, fountain designers were multi-talented individuals, Exemplifying the Renaissance artist as a creative genius, Leonardo da Vinci toiled as an inventor and scientific specialist. He carefully captured his findings in his currently celebrated notebooks, following his immense fascination in the forces of nature guided him to explore the properties and mobility of water. Combining inventiveness with hydraulic and gardening expertise, early Italian water feature designers modified private villa settings into ingenious water displays loaded with emblematic meaning and natural elegance. The humanist Pirro Ligorio, celebrated for his virtuosity in archeology, architecture and garden design, offered the vision behind the wonders in Tivoli. For the many properties near Florence, other fountain engineers were well versed in humanistic subject areas as well as ancient technical texts, masterminding the phenomenal water marbles, water attributes and water humor.
What Are Outdoor Water fountains Crafted From?
What Are Outdoor Water fountains Crafted From? Though they come in various materials, today’s garden fountains tend to be made of metal. Metallic fountains, with their clean lines and sculptural accents, exist in in a variety of metals and can accommodate any style or budget. It is essential that your landscape design reflects the style of your home.
Today, a lot of people elect copper for their sculptural garden fountains. Copper is used in cascade and tabletop water fountains as well as various other styles, making it versatile enough for inside and outside fountains. Copper is also versatile enough that you can choose a range of styles for your fountain, from contemporary to whimsical.
Brass water fountains are also popular, though they tend to have a more classic look than copper ones. Even though they are a bit old-fashioned, brass fountains are quite popular because they often include interesting artwork.
Probably the most cutting-edge of all metals is stainless steel. For an instantaneous increase in the value and comfort of your garden, get one of the contemporary steel designs. As with any type of fountain, they are available in numerous sizes.
Fiberglass is a popular material for fountains because you can get the look and feel of metal at a much lower price, and it is lightweight and easier to move than metal. It is simple to clean and maintain a fiberglass water fountain, yet another reason they are trendy.
A Solar Garden Wall Fountain
A Solar Garden Wall Fountain
Are you looking for the perfect piece to complement your home? Well, think about adding elegance and value to your residence by installing a solar powered water fountain. They are the same as electric fountains in that they help with one's overall well-being but they also offer financial benefits. While you may spend a bit upfront, the savings that you make in the long-term are worth it. You will not have to worry about energy shortages as your fountain will not be fueled by electricity. Running water fountains means that your use of electricity will go up and thus your monthly bill. Keep in mind that while you may not see any advantages right away, your home will be worth more further down the road.
Spending more money on our electric bills is not the only downside - the environment is negatively affected too. Becoming “green” is just one of the pluses of installing a solar water fountain running only on the power of the sun. The use of solar energy to heat or cool your house is much better for our planet.
This sort of water fountain doesn't need as much maintenance as others.
These water features need less cleaning than other kinds. Since solar fountains don't have motors, they don't get clogged which leads to little cleaning. And less cleaning equals more time to enjoy yourself!
Agrippa’s Marvelous Water-lifting Appliance
Agrippa’s Marvelous Water-lifting Appliance
Unfortunately, Agrippa’s wonderful design for raising water was not referred to a great deal after 1588, when Andrea Bacci acclaimed it widely. Just years later, in 1592, the early modern Roman conduit, the Acqua Felice, was hooked up to the Medici’s villa, probably making the technology outmoded. Though it is more likely that it was simply discarded when Ferdinando relinquished his cardinalship and returned back to Florence, ensuring his position as the Grand Duke of Tuscany, after the demise of his sibling, Francesco di Medici, in 1588. It could violate the law of gravity to raise water to Renaissance gardens, providing them in a way other late 16th century designs such as scenographic water presentations, melodious water fountains and giochi d’acqua or water caprices, were not.