Contemporary Garden Decoration: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Roots
Contemporary Garden Decoration: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Roots The incredible construction of a fountain allows it to provide clean water or shoot water high into air for dramatic effect and it can also serve as an excellent design feature to enhance your home.Pure functionality was the original purpose of fountains. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, via aqueducts or springs in the area.
Used until the 19th 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 the power of gravity. Artists 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. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times used by Romans to decorate their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to demonstrate his superiority over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to exalt their positions by including beautiful baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.
Indoor plumbing became the main source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby limiting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Gravity was replaced by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.
Nowadays, fountains adorn public spaces and are used to recognize individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
Keeping Your Water Wall Fountain Tidy
Keeping Your Water Wall Fountain Tidy It is essential to carefully maintain water fountains for them to work properly. A typical issue with fountains is that they tend to collect dirt and debris, so it is vital that you keep it free from this.
On top of that, algae can be a challenge, as sunshine hitting the water permits it to form quickly. To stay clear of this, take vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or sea salt and add right into the water. Bleach can also be mixed into the water, however this is not an ideal option as it can sicken birds or other animals. Every three-four months, garden fountains should have a good cleaning. Before you start cleaning, all the water must be taken out. Next use gentle and a soft sponge to clean the interior of the reservoir. If there are any little grooves, grab a toothbrush to reach each and every spot. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the interior of the fountain to make sure all the soap is gone.
It is highly advised taking the pump apart to better clean the inside and remove any plankton or calcium. Letting it soak in vinegar for several hours first will make it much easier to clean. If you want to minimize build-up in your fountain, use rain water or mineral water rather than tap water, as these don’t contain any ingredients that will stick to the inside of the pump.
Lastly, make sure your fountain is always full by looking at it every day - this will keep it in tip-top condition. Allowing the water to reach below the pump’s intake level, can cause severe damage and even make the pump burn out - an undesired outcome!
Water Transport Solutions in Historic Rome
Water Transport Solutions in Historic Rome Prior to 273, when the very first elevated aqueduct, Aqua Anio Vetus, was established in Rome, residents who dwelled on hills had to journey even further down to get their water from natural sources. When aqueducts or springs weren’t easily accessible, people dwelling at raised elevations turned to water taken from underground or rainwater, which was made possible by wells and cisterns. From the early sixteenth century, water was routed to Pincian Hill through the subterranean channel of Acqua Vergine. The aqueduct’s channel was made accessible by pozzi, or manholes, that were placed along its length when it was initially constructed. Though they were initially planned to make it possible to support the aqueduct, Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi started out using the manholes to accumulate water from the channel, opening when he bought the property in 1543. He didn’t get an adequate amount water from the cistern that he had built on his residential property to collect rainwater. That is when he made the decision to create an access point to the aqueduct that ran below his residential property.