Contemporary Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Beginnings
Contemporary Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Beginnings A water fountain is an architectural piece that pours water into a basin or jets it high into the air in order to supply drinking water, as well as for decorative purposes.The primary purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional.
Residents of urban areas, townships and small towns used them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash, which meant that fountains had to be connected to nearby aqueduct or spring. Until the late 19th, century most water fountains operated using gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a source of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Fountains were an optimal source of water, and also served to decorate living areas and celebrate the designer. Roman fountains often depicted imagery of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise. To show his prominence over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains built to mark the arrival points of Roman aqueducts.
Urban fountains created at the end of the 19th century functioned only as decorative and celebratory adornments since indoor plumbing provided the necessary drinking water. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity enabled fountains to deliver recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
Beautifying city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the functions of modern-day fountains.
Installation and Maintenance of Garden Water fountains
Installation and Maintenance of Garden Water fountains A very important first step is to think about the size of the outdoor wall fountain with regards to the space you have available for it.
A solid wall is absolutely necessary to hold up its total weight. Therefore for smaller areas or walls, a light feature is going to be more suitable. You will need to have an electrical socket in the vicinity of the fountain so it can be powered. Whatever the style of outdoor wall fountain you buy, they generally come with easy to understand, step-by-step instructions. The typical outdoor wall fountain is available in an easy-to-use kit that comes with everything you need and more to properly install it. The kit contains a submersible pump, hoses as well as the basin, or reservoir. The basin, if it's not too big, can easily be concealedin your garden among the plants. Once fitted, wall fountains typically only need to have some light upkeep and regular cleaning.
Replenishing and purifying the water on a consistent basis is very important. Remember to remove debris like leaves, twigs or dirt as fast as possible. Furthermore, outdoor fountains should always be shielded from freezing temperatures during the winter months. Your pump may split when subjected to freezing water during the cold weather, so it is best to bring it indoors to prevent any damage. To sum up, your outdoor wall fountain will continue to be a great addition to your garden if you keep it well cared for and well maintained.
The Dispersion of Water Fountain Design Innovation
The Dispersion of Water Fountain Design Innovation Contributing to the advancement of scientific technology were the printed letters and illustrated books of the time. They were also the main method of transferring practical hydraulic information and water fountain design suggestions throughout Europe. An internationally celebrated innovator in hydraulics in the late 1500's was a French water fountain designer, whose name has been lost to history. With Royal mandates in Brussels, London and Germany, he began his work in Italy, building know-how in garden design and grottoes with integrated and clever water features. In France, near the end of his lifetime, he wrote “The Principle of Moving Forces”, a book that became the essential text on hydraulic technology and engineering. The book modified key hydraulic breakthroughs since classical antiquity as well as detailing modern hydraulic technologies. The water screw, a mechanical way to move water, and invented by Archimedes, was featured in the book. Sunlight warming water in a pair of containers unseen in a room next to an beautiful water fountain was presented in one illustration. The heated water expands and subsequently ascends and closes the water lines thereby triggering the water fountain. Pumps, water wheels, water features and garden pond concepts are documented in the publication.