Modern Garden Decor: Fountains and their Roots
Modern Garden Decor: Fountains and their Roots A water fountain is an architectural piece that pours water into a basin or jets it high into the air in order to provide drinkable water, as well as for decorative purposes.The main 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, via aqueducts or springs nearby.
Up to the late nineteenth century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and higher than the fountain so that gravity could make the water move downwards or jet high into the air. Designers thought of fountains as wonderful additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to provide clean water and celebrate the artist responsible for creating it. The main components used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly depicting animals or heroes. 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 demonstrate his superiority over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries created baroque decorative fountains to exalt the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the spot where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
Since indoor plumbing became the standard 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. Gravity was replaced by mechanical pumps in order to permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.
Decorating city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the uses of modern-day fountains.
The Source of Today's Outdoor Water Fountains
The Source of Today's Outdoor Water Fountains Hundreds of ancient Greek texts were translated into Latin under the authority of the scholarly Pope Nicholas V, who ruled the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 to 1455. In order to make Rome worthy of being the capital of the Christian world, the Pope resolved to embellish the beauty of the city. Restoration of the Acqua Vergine, a desolate Roman aqueduct which had carried clean drinking water into the city from eight miles away, began in 1453 at the behest of the Pope. The ancient Roman custom of building an imposing commemorative fountain at the location where an aqueduct arrived, also known as a mostra, was restored by Nicholas V. The architect Leon Battista Alberti was directed by the Pope to build a wall fountain where we now find the Trevi Fountain. Modifications and extensions, included in the repaired aqueduct, eventually supplied the Trevi Fountain and the well-known baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona with the necessary water supply.The Many Construction Materials of Outdoor Garden Fountains
The Many Construction Materials of Outdoor Garden Fountains Garden fountains nowadays are commonly made from metal, though you can find them in other materials too. Metals tend to produce clean lines and unique sculptural accents and can fit almost any design theme or budget. Your outdoor design should complement the style of your residence. At present, copper is very common for sculptural garden fountains. Copper is popular for both inside and outside use and is commonly found in tabletop and cascade fountains, among others. If you decide to go with copper, your fountain can be any style from fun and whimsical to contemporary.
If you are drawn to more traditional -looking water fountains, brass is probably what you want. Though not the most modern, the creatures and sculptural features you find on fountains are mostly made of brass, thus making them very popular.
The most modern metal right now is definitely stainless steel. If you pick a cutting-edge steel design, both the value and tranquility of your garden will get a nice bump. As with any type of fountain, they are available in numerous sizes.
Fiberglass fountains are popular because they look similar to metal but are more affordable and much less cumbersome to move around. It is easy to clean and maintain a fiberglass water fountain, yet another reason they are trendy.