Modern Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Roots

From the onset, outdoor fountains were soley meant to serve as functional elements. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to supply them with drinking water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. 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. Acting as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also supplied clean, fresh drinking water. The main components used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly illustrating animals or heroes. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. The fountains seen in the Gardens of Versailles were meant to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains constructed to mark the arrival points of Roman aqueducts.

Since indoor plumbing became the standard of the day for clean, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely ornamental. The creation of unique water effects and the recycling of water were 2 things made possible by replacing gravity with mechanical pumps.

Embellishing city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the functions of modern-day fountains.

The Benefits of Including an Indoor Wall Water Fountain

A wall fountain is a great addition to any residence because it offers a peaceful place where you sit and watch a favorite show after working all day. Anyone near an indoor fountain will benefit from it because its sounds emit negative ions, remove dust and pollen from the air, and also lend to a soothing environment.