Where did Fountains Come From?

Pure functionality was the original role of fountains. Inhabitants of cities, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash, which meant that fountains needed to be linked to nearby aqueduct or spring. Used until the nineteenth 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 gravity. Acting as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also supplied clean, fresh drinking water. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times utilized by Romans to decorate their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. The fountains seen in the Gardens of Versailles were meant to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. 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 location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.

Urban fountains made at the end of the 19th century functioned only as decorative and celebratory ornaments since indoor plumbing provided the necessary drinking water. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity allowed fountains to provide recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.

Beautifying city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the uses of modern-day fountains.

Modern Wall Water Features

A living area with a contemporary style can also benefit from a wall fountain. If you wish to embellish your modern-day decor, consider adding one made of stainless steel or glass. Is space limited in your home or office? The perfect option for you is a wall water fountain. They take up no room since they are placed on a wall. Busy entryways in commercial buildings are often decorated with one of these types of fountains. Interior spaces are not the only places to install a wall fountain, however. Fiberglass and resin are good materials to use for exterior wall water features. Spruce up your terrace, courtyard, or other outdoor areas with a water fountain made of these weather-proof materials.

Wall fountains can be made in a variety of different designs ranging from contemporary to classic and provincial. The type you choose for your space is dictated by personal design preferences. A city dweller’s design ideas might call for polished glass whereas a mountaineer might choose a more traditional material such as slate for a mountain lodge. The material you get depends solely on your design ideas. No doubt however, fountains are sure to add to your quality of life and delight your family and friends.

The Many Kinds of Exterior Fountains

The stream of water sent shooting into the air by a spouting fountain is an impressive sight to see. Large, existing ponds can have one of these incorporated without much hassle. Parks and traditional mansions often have one these fountains.

Choose a fashionable wall fountain to put outside. Even with a small backyard, it is feasible to add one of these water features. Whereas spouting fountains leave behind an impressive effect, wall fountains are more understated water features. It is simple undertaking wherein a small jet of water propels outwards in front of a splendidly textured wall and then flows down only to be pumped up again.

Putting in a fountain with a motif depends completely on the layout of your garden. In a rustic themed cottage or garden, a classical styled statue for your fountain could include cherubs holding the spout. think about installing something bolder and distinctive for a modern-day garden. Just let your imagination to run loose.

Tiered fountains are alluring because the water runs down multiple levels. Water flowing down multiple tiers of this water feature is the chief attribute of a cascading fountain.

Since outdoor fountains occupy ample space, think about putting in a wall fountain or a pondless fountain. These types of water features are suitable for an area with limited space because their reservoirs are hidden underground.

Include a Japanese fountain if you are looking for a sense of peace. In this type of water feature the water passes through bamboo sticks. Water then flows into a recipient or a shaped stone, only to repeat the cycle over and over again.

An additional type of fountain is made of glass. Producing a more classical appearance are trellis-style fountains which showcase shaped metalwork. Water features such as these are best suited to yards with many sharp corners as well as modern-day forms and designs. A wondrous effect is created when water runs down the sheets of glass. Some fountains also include colorful LED lights to shine onto the sheets of glass as water streams downwards. With water softly flowing down its surface, rock waterfall fountains, often made of fake rock, are a viable option for your garden.

A large rock drilled with openings which then has tubes inserted into it is what differentiates a bubbling rock fountain. The gurgles and bubbles at the top are the product of the low pressure used to force the water upwards. Downward flowing water appears as gentle dribble as it moves down the sides of the rock to return to its base. This sort of fountain is ideally suited for small gardens. To guarantee that water is not sprayed around if it starts to get windy, this kind of fountain is the best choice since it only uses low pressure to move water.

Solar powered fountains have become more popular recently since they run on sunlight. The reasons for this are diverse, from the lack of wires and the reduced complexities to the lower power bills and the beneficial effects on our environment. There is no need to choose a specific model of outdoor solar-powered fountain because of the wide variety of styles found on the market.