The Genesis Of Outdoor Fountains
The Genesis Of Outdoor Fountains A fountain, an incredible piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also launch water high into the air for an extraordinary effect.Pure practicality was the original role of fountains. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, from aqueducts or springs nearby. 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 shoot high into the air. Designers thought of fountains as amazing additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to supply clean water and celebrate the artist responsible for creating it. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often utilized by Romans to beautify their fountains. To replicate the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages introduced fountains to their designs. The fountains seen in the Gardens of Versailles were intended to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains constructed to mark the arrival points of Roman aqueducts.
Urban fountains made at the end of the nineteenth functioned only as decorative and celebratory ornaments since indoor plumbing provided the essential drinking water. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for beautiful water displays.
Nowadays, fountains adorn public areas and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
Your Patio: A Great Place for a Garden Fountain
Your Patio: A Great Place for a Garden Fountain The addition of a wall water feature or an outdoor garden fountain is an excellent way to beautify your yard or garden design. Many current designers and artisans have been inspired by historical fountains and water features. As such, introducing one of these to your interior is a great way to connect it to the past. The water and moisture garden fountains release into the environment draws birds and other creatures, and also balances the ecosystem, all of which contribute to the benefits of having one of these beautiful water features. Birds enticed by a fountain or bird bath often frighten off irritating flying invaders, for instance.Spouting or cascading fountains are not the best option for a small backyard since they require a great deal of space. You can choose to put in a stand-alone fountain with a flat back and an connected basin propped against a fence or wall in your backyard, or a wall-mounted type which is self-contained and hung from a wall. Adding a fountain to an existing wall requires that you add a fountain mask as well as a basin at the base to collect the water. The plumbing and masonry work necessary for this kind of job requires expertise, so it is best to employ a skilled person rather than go at it yourself.
Anglo Saxon Gardens at the Time of the Norman Conquest
Anglo Saxon Gardens at the Time of the Norman Conquest The arrival of the Normans in the latter half of the eleventh century greatly transformed The Anglo-Saxon ways of living.
The ability of the Normans exceeded the Anglo-Saxons' in architecture and farming at the time of the conquest. However the Normans had to pacify the whole territory before they could concentrate on home life, domestic architecture, and decoration. Monasteries and castles served separate purposes, so while monasteries were large stone structures constructed in only the most fruitful, wide dales, castles were set upon blustery knolls where the people focused on understanding offensive and defensive strategies. The serene practice of gardening was unrealistic in these dreary bastions. The purest example of the early Anglo-Norman style of architecture existent today is Berkeley Castle. The keep is rumored to have been created during the time of William the Conqueror. A large terrace recommended for walking and as a means to stop enemies from mining below the walls runs about the building. One of these terraces, a charming bowling green, is covered grass and flanked by an aged yew hedge cut into the shape of crude battlements.