The Origins Of Garden Fountains
The Origins Of Garden Fountains The incredible architecture of a fountain allows it to provide clean water or shoot water high into air for dramatic effect and it can also serve as an excellent design feature to enhance your home. The main purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. Inhabitants of urban areas, townships and small towns utilized 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 to the late 19th century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and higher than the fountain so that gravity could make the water move down or jet high into the air. Fountains were not only used as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the artist who created it. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times used by Romans to decorate their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise. To show his prominence over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains built 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 strictly decorative elements. The creation of special water effects and the recycling of water were two things made possible by swapping gravity with mechanical pumps.
Modern-day fountains serve mostly as decoration for community spaces, to honor individuals or events, and compliment entertainment and recreational gatherings.
Your Outdoor Living Area: The Perfect Place for a Garden Fountain
Your Outdoor Living Area: The Perfect Place for a Garden Fountain The area outside your home can be enhanced by including a wall or a garden fountain to your landscaping or garden project. Historical fountains and water features have stirred the notice of contemporary designers as well as fountain manufacturers. As such, the impact of integrating one of these to your home decor binds it to past times. The benefit of having a garden fountain goes beyond its beauty as it also attracts birds and other wildlife, in addition to harmonizing the ecosystem with the water and moisture it emits into the atmosphere. For example, birds attracted by a fountain or birdbath can be useful because they fend off irritating flying insects. The area necessary for a cascading or spouting fountain is substantial, so a wall fountain is the perfect size for a small yard. There are two types of fountains to pick from including the freestanding model with a flat back and an attached basin set up against a fence or a wall in your yard, or the wall-mounted, self-contained version which is hung directly on a wall. Make certain to include a fountain mask to an existing wall and a basin to collect the water at the bottom if you wish to add a fountain to your living area. Be sure to hire a specialist for this type of job since it is better not to do it yourself due to the intricate plumbing and masonry work involved.