Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Begin?
Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Begin? 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.Pure practicality 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. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water source, including aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to take advantage of gravity which fed the fountains. Designers thought of fountains as amazing additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to provide clean water and honor the designer responsible for building it.
Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times used by Romans to beautify their fountains. Throughout the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners incorporated fountains to create smaller variations of the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to illustrate his dominion over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. 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 spot 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. Amazing water effects and recycled water were made possible by replacing the power of gravity with mechanical pumps.
Embellishing city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the uses of modern-day fountains.
The Advantages of Solar Powered Garden Fountains
The Advantages of Solar Powered Garden Fountains Your garden wall fountain can be run by a variety of power sources. While electrical power has been used up to now to power them, there has been renewed interest in environmentally-friendly solar powered models. The initial expenses to run your fountain on solar energy are probably going to be higher, but you should keep in mind that in the long run it will be the more affordable option. The most common materials used to make solar powered water features are terra cotta, copper, porcelain, or bronze. If you are looking for one which fits your decor, the options available on the market makes this possible.
If you are looking to have your own garden retreat, these kinds of fountains are ideal because they are easy to upkeep and also have a positive effect on the environment. If you are searching for something aesthetically pleasing as well as a way to maintain your house cool, indoor wall fountains are an ideal addition. An alternative to air conditioners and evaporative coolers, they cool off your home by using the same principles. You can also save on your utility costs because they use less energy.
Their cooling effect can be started by fanning fresh, dry air across them. Either your ceiling fan or air from a corner of the room can be used to augment circulation. Regardless of the technique you use, be certain the air is flowing over the top of the water in a regular manner. It is normal for fountains and waterfalls to produce cool, crisp air. A big community fountain or a water fall will generate a sudden chilliness in the air. Your fountain cooling system should not be installed in an area which is particularly hot. Your cooling system will be less reliable if it is placed in direct sunlight.
The Source of Today's Wall Fountains
The Source of Today's Wall Fountains Pope Nicholas V, himself a learned man, ruled the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 to 1455 during which time he commissioned many translations of old classical Greek documents into Latin. It was important for him to embellish the city of Rome to make it worthy of being called the capital of the Christian world. In 1453 the Pope commissioned the reconstruction of the Aqua Vergine, an ancient Roman aqueduct which had carried clean drinking water into the city from eight miles away. A mostra, a monumental dedicatory fountain constructed by ancient Romans to mark the point of arrival of an aqueduct, was a practice which was revived by Nicholas V. The present-day location of the Trevi Fountain was previously occupied by a wall fountain commissioned by the Pope and constructed by the architect Leon Battista Alberti. The Trevi Fountain as well as the well-known baroque fountains found in the Piazza del Popolo and the Piazza Navona were eventually supplied with water from the modified aqueduct he had reconstructed.