The Original Outdoor Water Feature Designers
The Original Outdoor Water Feature Designers Fountain designers were multi-talented people from the 16th to the later part of the 18th century, often working as architects, sculptors, artists, engineers and highly educated scholars all in one person. Throughout the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci illustrated the artist as an imaginative intellect, creator and scientific specialist. The forces of nature inspired him to research the qualities and motion of water, and due to his curiosity, he methodically recorded his observations in his now renowned notebooks. Converting private villa settings into amazing water displays full of symbolic significance and natural beauty, early Italian water feature engineers paired resourcefulness with hydraulic and horticultural knowledge. The humanist Pirro Ligorio, distinguished for his virtuosity in archeology, architecture and garden design, provided the vision behind the splendors in Tivoli. Masterminding the fascinating water marbles, water features and water pranks for the various estates in the vicinity of Florence, other water feature designers were well versed in humanistic issues and classical technical texts.The Magificent Early Wonders by Bernini
The Magificent Early Wonders by Bernini
Where did Landscape Fountains Come From?
Where did Landscape Fountains Come From? The amazing or decorative 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.
Pure functionality was the original role of fountains. 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 flow 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 honor the artist responsible for creating it. Bronze or stone masks of animals and heroes were frequently seen on Roman fountains. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of 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 Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries manufactured 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 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. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity helped fountains to deliver recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
Contemporary fountains are used to embellish public spaces, honor individuals or events, and enhance recreational and entertainment events.
The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Large Outdoor Fountains
The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Large Outdoor Fountains To ensure that water fountains last a long time, it is important to perform regular maintenance. Leaves, twigs, and bugs very often find their way into fountains, so it is essential to keep yours free from such debris. Also, algae tends to build up anywhere natural light meets water. To stay clear of this, take vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or sea salt and add straight into the water. There are those who prefer to use bleach, but that is harmful to any animals that might drink or bathe in the water - so should therefore be avoided.
No more than 3-4 months should really go by without an extensive maintaining of a fountain. Before you can start cleaning it you should drain out all of the water. When it is empty, wash inside the reservoir with a mild cleanser. A useful tip is to use a toothbrush if there are little hard-to-reach spots. Be sure to carefully rinse the inner surface of the fountain to make sure all the soap is gone.
Numerous organisms and calcium deposits may get inside the pump, so it is advised to take it apart and clean it completely. You might want to let it soak in vinegar for a few hours to make it easier to wash. Build-up can be a big hassle, so use mineral or rain water over tap water, when possible, to prevent this dilemma.
And finally, make sure the water level is always full in order to keep your fountain working smoothly. Low water levels can damage the pump - and you do not want that!