Fountain

A fountain is a fountain in which a natural or artificial, water is ejected in one or more fountains. Add water features to include many more such games with and operated by the water on, for example, cascades, stepped waterways and basins. It is usually installed in parks and gardens as a decorative element and as an attraction.

Definition

There is a fundamental distinction between natural and artificial fountains. Fountain in which the water must not be transported upward, are natural fountains. These are located in places where the ground water is under pressure because the water table is higher than the floor, and thus has a high hydraulic potential. There, a hole is made, through which the water in a natural way to escape. This is called artesian source. The artesian wells, which from the soil than water jet austretend recognizable, was 1126 the first time as used in Artois. The just- declared wells are among deep wells. However, the simplest fountain is a simple catch basin is collected with the water from a source before it can become a stream.

Artificial fountains usually consist of fountains, cascades, spray jets and waterfalls.

History

Even in ancient times, there were fountains, sculptures usually made with isolated water outlets.

Gothic

In the Gothic period the vertical and was very important in architecture. Fountains use an ascending dynamics, comparable to the pyramids. Often, they consist of a plurality of shells which form a cascade. Gothic elements such as pinnacle, crab and finial are used.

Renaissance

In the Renaissance straight columns are used instead of the Gothic pyramid whose capital usually serves as a base of a statue. These statues are figures from ancient mythology or animals, such as the coat of arms lion, bears, eagles and dolphins. The lower column shaft is often surrounded by figures. Beck margins and columns are ornamentally decorated as in Mainz Marktbrunnen (Peter Flötner ) in 1526. In Italy, the water was typically passed through stages so that cascades originated. At the end of this period, the fountains were wider and the edges were often fitted with figures.

Baroque

In the Baroque period the fountain show with cascades and fountains large the force and mass of the water. The water should connect with the architecture. A famous example is the Fontana di Trevi. In the Baroque garden fountains originated, such as ponds with artificial caves and water organs. At Versailles, the king demanded that all water games ran at the same time. As this was impossible due to the scarcity of water, the water was pumped from the River Seine and only where there was the king, directed to the corresponding fountain.

Rococo

Compared to the baroque more emphasis is placed on the details in the Rococo and there are elegant figures. Primarily goddesses are represented with flowers hats and ornaments. The stone figures of the wells are shown in motion. The water flows from flutes, organs and mouths and meets other characters.

In classical and industrialization, the development of powerful pumps was essential. Now the shape of the water was used more and more, it emerged underwater pictures while sculptures, ornaments and embellishments rather disappeared.

Current examples

Even today there are large fountains prestige objects and tourist attractions. Once back in the 19th century, cities have built fountains as a sign of status and wealth, such as the Jet d' eau in Geneva, today there is a real competition for beautiful and original water features, but also about maximizing fountain. The following list is not exhaustive fountain leads to the highest fountains.

Private facilities

Also, garden ponds are often designed as fountains or provided with a fountain. This is used, among other things, the maintenance or improvement of water quality by absorbing oxygen. There are also small variations for use in the home as a humidifier.

Safety

In areas of water basins, including fountains, is due to the humid conditions a higher risk than in the usual dry environment to be at risk from electrical systems and equipment. Therefore, special requirements for electrical installations in those fields. They are part of the standard / safety regulation DIN VDE 0100-702 (VDE 0100-702 ).