Where did Garden Water Fountains Begin?
Where did Garden Water Fountains Begin?
The amazing or ornamental effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, in addition to supplying drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property. The central purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, from aqueducts or springs nearby. Used until the 19th century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their origin of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from the power of gravity. Fountains were an excellent source of water, and also served to adorn living areas and memorialize the designer. Bronze or stone masks of animals and heroes were frequently seen on Roman fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to illustrate his superiority over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains built to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.
Since indoor plumbing became the norm of the day for fresh, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely decorative. The creation of special water effects and the recycling of water were 2 things made possible by replacing 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.
How Technical Concepts of Fountains Spread
How Technical Concepts of Fountains Spread Dissiminating useful hydraulic information and water feature design ideas throughout Europe was accomplished with the written documents and illustrated publications of the time. In the later part of the 1500's, a French water feature designer (whose name has been lost) was the internationally renowned hydraulics pioneer. With imperial mandates in Brussels, London and Germany, he began his work in Italy, acquiring know-how in garden design and grottoes with incorporated and imaginative water hydraulics. “The Principles of Moving Forces”, a guide that became the fundamental book on hydraulic mechanics and engineering, was written by him toward the end of his lifetime in France. Classical antiquity hydraulic developments were elaborated as well as revisions to crucial classical antiquity hydraulic breakthroughs in the publication. The water screw, a technical method to move water, and developed by Archimedes, was showcased in the book. A pair of hidden containers heated up by sunlight in an space next to the decorative water feature were shown in an illustration. What occurs is the heated water expanded, goes up and locks up the pipes heading to the fountain, consequently leading to activation.
The book furthermore covers garden ponds, water wheels, water feature designs.
The Countless Construction Materials of Outdoor Fountains
The Countless Construction Materials of Outdoor Fountains Most contemporary garden fountains come in metal, although many other types exist. Metals tend to produce clean lines and unique sculptural accents and can fit almost any design preference or budget. The interior design of your residence should determine the look and feel of your yard and garden as well. Presently, copper is very popular for sculptural garden fountains. Copper is used in cascade and tabletop water fountains as well as many other styles, making it perfect for inside and outside fountains. If you choose to go with copper, your fountain can be any style from fun and whimsical to cutting-edge.
Also popular, brass fountains typically have a more old-fashioned style to them versus their copper counterpart. Even though they are a bit old-fashioned, brass fountains are quite widespread because they often incorporate interesting artwork.
Most folks today see stainless steel as the most modern choice. Adding a modern-looking steel design will immediately add value to your garden and elevate the overall ambiance. As with all fountains, you can find any size you need.
Fiberglass fountains are well liked because they look similar to metal but are more affordable and much less difficult to move around. It is simple to clean and maintain a fiberglass water fountain, yet another reason they are trendy.