Modern Garden Decor: Outdoor Fountains and their Beginnings

Pure functionality was the original role of fountains. Water fountains were connected to a spring or aqueduct to provide drinkable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Used until the 19th 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. Fountains were not only used as a water source for drinking water, but also to decorate homes and celebrate the artist who created it. Roman fountains often depicted imagery of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. Throughout the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners included fountains to create smaller variations of the gardens of paradise. Fountains enjoyed a significant role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exert his power over nature. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries manufactured baroque decorative fountains to glorify the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
The end of the 19th century saw the increase in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to purely decorative elements. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity enabled fountains to bring recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.
Modern-day fountains serve mostly as decoration for public spaces, to honor individuals or events, and enhance entertainment and recreational gatherings.
Choose from Countless Exterior Wall Fountain Designs
Choose from Countless Exterior Wall Fountain Designs If you want to have a place to relax and add some pizzazz to a small area such as a patio or courtyard, wall fountains are perfect because they do not occupy much space. When considering the many types of outdoor wall fountains available including traditional, antique, modern, or Asian, you are certain to find one most suitable to your design ideas. While there are innumerable prefabricated ones on the market, you may need a custom-built fountain if none of these are pleasing to you.The two kinds of fountains available to you are mounted and freestanding models. Mounted wall fountains are small and self-contained versions which can be hung on a wall. Ordinarily made of resin (to resemble stone) or fiber glass, these sorts of fountains are lightweight and easy to hang. Sizable free-standing wall fountains, commonly referred to as floor fountains, have their basins positioned on the floor and a smooth side leaning on a wall. Typically made of cast stone, this style of water feature is not limited in weight.
It is a good idea to incorporate a customized fountain into a new or existing wall, something often recommended by landscape experts. The basin and all the required plumbing are best installed by a qualified mason. A fountain mask or a spout also needs to be integrated into the wall. Custom-built wall fountains lend to a unified appearance because they become part of the scenery rather than look like a later addition.