The Original Water Fountain Designers
The Original Water Fountain Designers
Often serving as architects, sculptors, designers, engineers and discerning scholars, all in one, fountain creators were multi-faceted individuals from the 16th to the later part of the 18th century. Leonardo da Vinci, a Renaissance artist, was renowned as an imaginative intellect, inventor and scientific master. He systematically documented his observations in his now famed notebooks, following his mind boggling interest in the forces of nature guided him to examine the properties and mobility of water. Brilliant water exhibits packed of symbolic meaning and all-natural charm converted private villa settings when early Italian water feature designers combined resourcefulness with hydraulic and landscaping expertise. The humanist Pirro Ligorio offered the vision behind the wonders in Tivoli and was recognized for his abilities in archeology, architecture and garden design. Masterminding the excellent water marbles, water attributes and water pranks for the various mansions near Florence, some other water fountain engineers were well versed in humanist issues as well as classical scientific texts.
Rome’s Ingenious Water Transport Solutions
Rome’s Ingenious Water Transport Solutions Previous to 273, when the first elevated aqueduct, Aqua Anio Vetus, was built in Rome, residents who lived on hillsides had to journey further down to gather their water from natural sources. During this time period, there were only two other technologies capable of delivering water to higher areas, subterranean wells and cisterns, which gathered rainwater. From the beginning of the sixteenth century, water was routed to Pincian Hill through the subterranean channel of Acqua Vergine. As originally constructed, the aqueduct was provided along the length of its channel with pozzi (manholes) constructed at regular intervals. During the some 9 years he had the property, from 1543 to 1552, Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi used these manholes to take water from the network in buckets, though they were previously designed for the goal of maintaining and maintenance the aqueduct. The cistern he had built to gather rainwater wasn’t adequate to meet his water requirements.
Fortunately, the aqueduct sat just below his residence, and he had a shaft established to give him accessibility.
The Origins Of Outdoor Fountains
The Origins Of Outdoor Fountains The incredible construction 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 complement your home. The main purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. Water fountains were connected to a spring or aqueduct to provide potable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Up until the nineteenth, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water supply, such as aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to benefit from gravity which fed the fountains. Serving as an element of adornment and celebration, fountains also provided clean, fresh drinking water. The main components used by the Romans to create their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly illustrating animals or heroes. To illustrate the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages introduced fountains to their designs. To demonstrate his prominence over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. 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 entered the city of Rome
The end of the 19th century saw the rise in usage of indoor plumbing to supply drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.
Modern-day fountains function mostly as decoration for community spaces, to honor individuals or events, and compliment entertainment and recreational gatherings.
Keeping Your Fountain Clean
Keeping Your Fountain Clean To ensure that water fountains last a long time, it is important to practice regular maintenance.
It is easy for foreign objects to find their way into open-air fountains, so keeping it clean is important. Also, algae has a tendency to build up wherever natural light meets water. Blend hydrogen peroxide, sea salt, or vinegar into the water to avoid this particular problem. Some people opt for adding bleach into the water, but the downside is that it harms wildlife - so it should be avoided. A thorough cleaning every 3-4 months is best for garden fountains. To start with you must empty the water. Next use gentle and a soft sponge to clean the interior of the reservoir. If there is delicate artwork, you might need to use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach areas. Do not leave any soap deposits in or on the fountain.
Make sure you get rid of any calcium or plankton by taking the pump apart and cleaning the inside carefully. Letting it soak in vinegar for a couple of hours first will make it much easier to clean. If you want to eliminate build-up in your fountain, use rain water or mineral water versus tap water, as these don’t contain any components that might stick to the inside of the pump.
Lastly, make sure your fountain is always full by checking on it every day - this will keep it in tip-top condition. Low water levels can damage the pump - and you don't want that!