The Basics Of Outdoor Garden Water Fountains
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Water Fountains The Basics
What is a water fountain? The term fountain from a water gardening or historical point of view is an an artificial structure designed to contain and move water, providing people with refreshment, and aesthetic pleasure, or both. The solid sculptural or architectural fountain design manipulates and shapes the fluidity of water into delicate or grand jets and sprays, or to channel it into refined or thundering flows and falls, whether that be to an outdoor garden fountain or outdoor wall fountains. In water fountains, water serves as an additional natural material that the designer can mold and transform into art and ornament.
Two Classes of Water Fountains
Outdoor water fountains are divided into 2 categories: those where the fountain design and structure is the main focus and those where water displays are the primary feature. In fountains for the architectural observer, cultural framework is foremost, the water plays a supporting role, enhancing and animating the central architectural design. The majority of European towns since the Renaissance, and many American ones such as the Fountains of Kansas City, showcase sculpture or architectural mastery. Classic examples include the fountain of Neptune in Florence and Rome's Trevi Fountain. Other fountain examples include the Piccadilly Circus fountain in London and the Prometheus fountain in New York City's Rockefeller Center. These fountains are admired and understood for their aesthetic qualities. Even without the water running. When floodwater is present, however, the fountains gain added vitality from the constantly changing kinetic motion, sparkling effects and splashing sounds.
In fountains that rely upon the visual effect of flowing, splashing or cascading water for their visual effect, the aesthetic impact depends primarily upon the rise and fall of water. Examples of these animated water fountains include the fountains at Chatsworth Gardens, in England and the Cascades at Caserta in Portland, Oregon. Without the flow of moving water the visual spectacle disappears, leaving a still pool, or an unsightly puddle or dry fountain bed revealing its arrangement of pipes and outlets.
Contemporary Fountains versus Traditional Fountains
Some contemporary outdoor fountains are designed for jets recessed into the pavement, or designed as stepped terraces, so that even without animated water their artistic beauty isn't compromised. Many of these magnificently sculptured fountains can be found in climates that are affected by freezing temperatures, necessitating the need for them to be turned off during freezing spells. Such as example is the effect given of a a dragon appearing to be snorting ice in the Fontaine Saint Michael in Paris. Some contemporary fountains, such as the Northland fountain in Kansas City have been designed to remain operational, in order to take advantage of the sculptured effects produced by freezing ice.
Fountain Placement Is Critical
In addition to concerns about water flow and the underlying sculptural or architectural structure, designers must also consider the location of the water fountain. Many fountains in order to be viewed and accessed from all sides need to be sited in the center of it's space. Rome, which has more fountains than any other city in the world is living testament as many of it's landscape fountains are sited in piazzas and in places where they are easily viewed. Other fountains are placed against a building, creating monumental and theatrical settings, such as the Trevi fountain in Italy. This style of fountain is best viewed from a frontal and central position.