Fountain

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A fountain (from the Latin "fons" or "fontis," a source or spring) is a piece of architecture which pours water into a basin or jets it into the air for decorative or dramatic effect.

Fountains were originally purely functional, connected to springs or aqueducts and used to provide drinking water and water for bathing, but in ancient Rome and they began to be used as decorative elements in gardens and courtyards. The art of fountains reached its peak in the fountains of the palaces of Moorish Spain in the 14th century; in the Italian Renaissance garden in the 15th and 16th century; in the fountains of the Gardens of Versailles in the seventeenth century; and the decorative fountains of Rome in the seventeenth and eighteenth century. ^[1]

Fountains today may be practical, such as drinking fountains and village fountains which provide clean drinking water; or designed for recreation, such as splash fountains, where residents can cool off in summer; or ornamental, decorating city parks and squares and home gardens.

Fountains may be wall fountains or free-standing. In fountains sheets of water may flow over varied surfaces of stone, concrete or metal. Basins may overflow from one into another, or the overflow may imitate a natural cascade. Many fountains are located in small, artificial, ornamental ponds, basins and formal garden pools, and often they include sculpture.

Until the 20th century fountains depended upon gravity to make water spout or spray in the air, but modern fountains can use mechancial pumps. A famous example is the Jet d'Eau in Lake Geneva, which shoots water 140 meters in the air. The highest such fountain in the world is King Fahd's Fountain in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which rises 312 meters in the air.^[2] Contemporary fountains can also use music, lighting and computer-generated programs to provide animation and special effects.

Contents 1 History of Fountains 1.1 Ancient Fountains 1.2 Roman Fountains 1.3 Persian Fountains 1.4 Medieval Fountains 1.5 Moorish Fountains 1.6 Fountains of the Italian Renaissance 1.7 Baroque Fountains (17th-18th Century) 1.8 19th Century Fountains 1.9 Contemporary Fountains 1.9.1 Splash Fountains 2 Drinking Fountains 3 The Technology of Fountains 4 Fountains in Religious ritual, Symbolism, Legend and Celebration 5 Fountains that are musical instruments 6 Water quality issues 7 U.S. legal liability 8 Fountains not using water 8.1 Mercury fountain 8.2 Gin fountain 8.3 Chocolate fountain 9 Famous traditional fountains 10 Some modern fountains 11 See also 12 Bibliography 13 References and Sources 14 External links 15 Gallery of Renaissance Fountains 16 Gallery of Baroque Fountains (17th and 18th Century) 17 Gallery of 19th Century Fountains 18 Gallery of Modern Fountains 19 Other Kinds of Fountains

[edit] History of Fountains

[edit] Ancient Fountains

The ancient Egyptians had pipes and sophisticated irrigation systems and are said to have had fountains, but none exist today. Fountains existed in Athens, Corinth, and other ancient Greek cities in the 6th century B.C. as the terminating points of aqueducts which brought water from springs and rivers into the cities. The main fountain of Athens, the Enneacrounos, with nine large cannons, or spouts, impressed contemporary writers. Greek fountains were made of stone or marble, with water flowing through bronze pipes and emerging from the mouth of a sculpted mask that represented the head of a lion or the muzzle of an animal. Most Greek fountains flowed by simple gravity, but they also discovered how to use water pressure to make water jet or spout. ^[3].

[edit] Roman Fountains

The Romans, with a vast and sophisticated system of aqueducts used to supply their drinking water, irrigation water and water for Roman baths, advanced the art of fountain design. Roman engineers used lead pipes instead of bronze. Th excavations at Pompeii, dating from 79 B.C., uncovered free-standing fountains and basins placed at intervals along city streets, fed by siphoning water upwards from nozzles connected to a very elaborate water distribution system.

According to Frontin, the Roman consul who was named curator aquarum or guardian of the water of Rome in 98 A.D., Rome had nine aqueducts which fed 39 monumental fountains and 591 public basins, not counting the water supplied to the Imperial household, baths and owners of private villas. Each of the major fountains was connected to different aqueducts, in case one was shut down for service.^[4]

The Romans were able to make fountains jet water into the air, by using the pressure of water flowing from a distant and higher source of water to create hydraulic head, or force. Illustrations of fountains in gardens spouting water are found on wall paintings in Rome from the first century B.C., and in the villas of Pompeii. ^[5]. The Villa of Hadrian in Tivoli featured a large swimming basin with jets of water. Pliny the Younger described the banquet room of a Roman villa where a fountain began to jet water when visitors sat on a marble seat. The water flowed into a basin, where the courses of a banquet were served in floating dishes shaped like boats.^[6].

[edit] Persian Fountains

Persian gardens after the Arab invasion of the 7th century were traditionally enclosed and were designed to represent paradise; the Persian word for enclosed space is 'pairi-daeza.' The chahar bagh, or paradise garden, was laid out in the form of a cross, with four channels representing the rivers of paradise, dividing the four parts of world. There are no existing pictures of early Persian fountains, but they probably fed water into the four channels. ^[7]

[edit] Medieval Fountains

Sinple fountains, called lavabos, were found in Medieval monasteries such as Le Thoronet Abbey (1170-1200) in Provence, and were used for ritual washing before religious services. ^[8]

Fountains were also found in the medieval jardins d'amour, "gardens of courtly love." ornamental gardens used for courtship and relaxion. The medieval romance The Roman de la Rose describes a fountain in the center of an enclosed garden, feeding small streams bordered by flowers and fresh herbs.

The gardens of the Counts of Artois at the Chateau de'Herdin, built in 1295, contained famous fountains, called Les Merveilles d'Herdin" which could be triggered to drench surprised visitors.^[9]

[edit] Moorish Fountains

The palaces of Moorish Spain, particularly the Alhambra in Granada, had famous fountains. The patio of the Sultan in the gardens of Generalife in Granada (1319) featured jets of water falling into a basin, with channels which irrigated orange and myrtle trees. The fountain in the Lion Court of the Alhambra, built in 1337, is a large basin mounted on twelve stone statues of lions, which feed four channels dividing the courtyard into quadrants.^[10]

[edit] Fountains of the Italian Renaissance

In the Italian Renaissance garden, the fountain was not just a decoration, but a central feature of the garden. Italian scholars translated forgotten Roman texts on architecture and hyrdaulics and began to build gardens on Roman models, featuring ornamental fountains in the center of symmetrical arrangements of tree-lined paths and planting beds,

By the middle Renaissance, fountains had become a form of theater, with cascades and jets of water coming from marble statues of animals and mythological figures. The most famous fountains were found in the Villa d'Este, near Rome, where two rivers fed a series of basins, fountains and jets of water, as well as a fountain which produced music by pouring water into a chamber, forcing air into a series of flute-like pipes. The gardens also featured giochi d'acqua, water jokes, hidden fountains which suddenly soaked visitors. ^[11]

In the Renaissance cities, the Roman tradition of placing a fountain at the terminal point of an aqueduct was revived. Pope Nicholas V rebuilt the ruined Roman aqueduct called the Acqua Vergine and commissioned the architect Leon Battista Alberti to built a stately wall fountain where it arrived in the city, at the site of the present Trevi Fountain.^[12]

[edit] Baroque Fountains (17th-18th Century)

The Garden à la française, or French formal garden of the 17th century, used fountains to demonstrate the power of man over nature; instead of falling naturally into a basin, water was shot into the sky, or formed into the shape of a fan or bouquet. The fountains of the Gardens of Versailles were designed to impress visitors with their grandeur and scale. Dancing water was combined with music and fireworks to form a grand spectacle. The fountains of Versailles were ornamented with statues of allegorical figures, such as Apollo, the sun god, meant to represent Louis XIV. .^[13]

[edit] 19th Century Fountains

In the 19th century, fountains moved from gardens and palaces and became architectural monuments the center of cities, where they honored historical events or were allegories for national grandeur. Monumental fountains were built in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, Trafalgar Square in London, and other cities in Europe and around the world.

[edit] Contemporary Fountains

Some contemporary fountains are inspired by classical models, while others use modern technologies, such as computer-controlled animation of the water, often to music, and special lighting effects, to achieve surprise, variety and drama. Other types of contemporary fountains invite spectators to come into the fountain and become part of it.

[edit] Splash Fountains

A splash fountain or bathing fountain is intended for people to come in and cool off on hot summer days. These fountains are designed to allow easy access, and feature nonslip surfaces, and have no standing water, to eliminate possible drowning hazards, so that no lifeguards or supervision is required. These splash pads are often located in public pools, public parks, or public playgrounds (known as "spraygrounds"). In some splash fountains, such as Dundas Square in Toronto, Canada, the water is heated by solar energy captured by the special dark colored granite slabs. The fountain at Dunas Square features 600 ground nozzles arranged in groups of 30 (3 rows of 10 nozzles). Each group of 30 nozzles is located beneath a stainless steel grille. Twenty such grilles are arranged in two rows of 10, in the middle of the main walkway through Dundas Square.

[edit] Drinking Fountains

A water fountain or drinking fountain is designed to provide drinking water and has a basin arrangement with either continuously running water or a tap. Modern indoor drinking fountains may incorporate filters to remove impurities from the water and chillers to reduce its temperature. In some regional dialects, water fountains are referred to as bubblers. Water fountains are usually found in public places, like schools, rest areas and grocery stores. Many jurisdictions require water fountains to be wheelchair accessible (by sticking out horizontally from the wall), and to include an additional unit of a lower height for children and short adults. The design that this replaced often had one spout atop a refrigeration unit.

[edit] The Technology of Fountains

From Roman times until the 20th century, fountains operated by gravity, requiring a source of water higher than the fountain itself.

In modern fountains the traditional gravitational pressure from an unseen reservoir at a higher level is not always practical. In many circumstances fountains obtain their water from a closed, recirculating system that must still be filled at the start from the local water supply system and also topped up through its life to offset the effects of evaporation. Allowance must also be made to handle overflow in the case of heavy rain.

The pressure that causes water to move through the fountain may be produced instead by a motor-driven (often submersible electric) pump. "Static head" is useful to quantify this pressure.

A water filter, typically a media filter, removes particles from the water -- this filter requires its own pump to force water through it and plumbing to remove the water from the pool to the filter and then back to the pool. The water may need chlorination or anti-algal treatment, or may use biological methods to filter and clean water.

The pumps, filter, electrical switch box and plumbing controls are often housed in a "plant room". Low-voltage lighting, typically 12 volt direct current, is used to minimise electrical hazards. Lighting is often submerged and must be suitably designed. Floating fountains are also popular for ponds and lakes they consist of a float pump nozzle and water chamber.

[edit] Fountains in Religious ritual, Symbolism, Legend and Celebration

• In Islam, worshippers come to a fountain to wash before prayer. A similar ritual was followed by monks in Medieval monasteries.

• The Fountain of Life, or in its earlier form, the Fountain of Living Waters, is a Christian iconography symbol associated with baptism, first appearing in the 5th century in illuminated manuscripts and later in other art forms such as panel paintings. Chriistian allegory made much use of the concept of the fountain, specifically the Fountain of Life, associated with the rebirth that was intended to be experienced at the Baptismal font. The Fountain of Life appears in Christian illuminated manuscripts of Late Antiquity, and elaborate Gothic fountains formed centerpieces for exclosed gardens.

• The Fountain of Youth was a legendary fountain; those who drank from it were said to regain their youth, or become immortal.

• Fountains also can be settings for special celebrations. The turning on of the fountains at Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia each spring is an occasion for a large celebration. The University at Albany and Binghamton University, both host an annual "Fountain Day," a day on which the university communities come together to celebrate the arrival of spring and the near-end of the semester.

[edit] Fountains that are musical instruments

A hydraulophone is a fountain that can be played as a musical instrument. These fountains are like woodwind instruments, but using water instead of air. The embouchure of the instrument occurs at the finger holes (referred to as "mouths"). Hydraulophones often have multiple "mouths", so that a player can put each finger into a different mouth at the same time, in order to play chords, while independently manipulating each finger for separate and individual control of the embouchure of each note in a chord. A skilled hydraulist can slightly "bend" each note in order to play just intonation in any desired key, or to gently and fluidly vary intonation or temperament as a piece of music changes from one key to another.

[edit] Water quality issues

There is a need for good water quality in contemporary fountains, regardless of their avowed intended use. Regardless of the fact that some fountains are designed and built not as bathing fountains, but are rather used simply as architectural decor, people will often drink from, bathe or wash their hands in any fountain. Additionally, fountain spray can contain legionella bacteria and has been linked to legionnaires' disease outbreaks. Therefore, minimum water quality standards are necessary, regardless of intended use. Guidelines have been developed for control of legionella in ornamental fountains.

In theory, a free-standing water feature should not have a bather load, and consequently, many builders would not choose to install filters or sanitation devices. In reality, however, people will interact with ornamental water fountains in the most surprising ways. In Disneyland, for example, people have been reported to change their babies' diapers and then wash their hands in the water fountain (thus adding unexpected bacteria and organics into the water). (Pool and Spa News Online)

[edit] U.S. legal liability

In July 1997, an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis was connected to an ornamental fountain at the Minnesota Zoo, which did not have proper filtration and water treatment. Children played in fountains and swallowed water, and spurted the water out of their mouths to mimic the way nozzles in the fountain spurted the water. It was therefore necessary to put a fence around the fountain to keep people away.

In the United States fountain operators and owners are legally liable for failure to either fence-in fountains, or to properly filter, chlorinate or otherwise treat the water, if the fountains are not fenced in. If the water is unsafe, fences must be designed to keep people far enough away, so that they cannot touch the water, otherwise children get water on their hands, and put their fingers into their mouths, and end up getting sick, thus subjecting owners and operators to legal liability.

[edit] Fountains not using water

[edit] Mercury fountain

For the Barcelona exhibition of 1937, in remembrance of the miners who were killed at the mercury mines at Almadén, Alexander Calder created a memorial fountain using mercury instead of water. (Today it is enclosed behind glass.)

• pictures of Mercury Fountain at the Fundació Miró by David Eppstein
• pictures of Mercury Fountain by Mary Ann Sullivan

[edit] Gin fountain

During New York City's first drought emergency in modern times, Gene Moore, window designer for Tiffany's, created sparkling fountains hung with diamonds. On a Tiffany card in a corner was a note explaining: "This is not New York's precious water. This is gin."

• Gene Moore, with Jay Hyams, 1990. My Time at Tiffany's

[edit] Chocolate fountain

[edit] Famous traditional fountains

• Buckingham Fountain in Chicago
• Fontana di Trevi in Rome
• Fountain of the Four Rivers in Rome
• Swann Memorial Fountain in Philadelphia
• The Fountain Four Lions in Sremski Karlovci, in Serbia.
• The Fountain of Tears (described by Alexander Pushkin) in the Khan Palace in Bakhchisaray, Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine.
• The fountains of Caserta Palace in southern Italy
• The fountains of Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, England
• The fountains of Peterhof
• The fountains at Villa d'Este in Tivoli, Italy
• The Gardens of Versailles fountains on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles near Paris
• The German Fountain (Turkish: Alman Çeşmesi) in the northern end of old hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square), Istanbul, Turkey;
• The Jet d'Eau in Lake Geneva
• The Trafalgar Square fountains in London
• The Wallace fountains of Paris
• Triton Fountain in Italy

[edit] Some modern fountains

• Captain Cook Memorial fountain in Lake Burley Griffin Canberra can reach to 147m
• Centennial Olympic Park (computer animated frolicking fountain with 251 ground nozzles that shoot 12 to 35 feet (11 m) in the air)
• "City of Fountains" list, Kansas City, Missouri, the city with most fountains in the world after Rome.
• Dundas Square fountains designed by artist Dan Euser as both an architectural landmark as well as for frolicking (waterplay)
• Fountain in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
• Fountain of Nations in the Walt Disney World Resort can shoot water 150 ft (46 m)
• Fountain of Wealth (largest fountain in the world since 1998) in Singapore
• Fountains in front of Brooklyn Museum (frequent frolicking, no standing water; less chance of drowning)
• King Fahd's Fountain in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the world's tallest fountain with height of 312 meters (1,023.62 ft).
• Place Montreal Trust has highest water spout in North America, 30 meters or 5 stories high.
• Port Fountain, World's third tallest fountain located in Karachi, Pakistan
• The El Alamein Fountain in Fitzroy Gardens, Kings Cross, Sydney, Australia. Tubes and nozzles radiating from a hollow sphere.
• The fountain at Point State Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• The Fountains of Bellagio at the Bellagio hotel and casino in Las Vegas.
• The Gateway Geyser, the world's second tallest fountain, located in the town of East St. Louis, Illinois.
• Toronto Eaton Centre in Toronto, Canada.
• Tyler Davidson Fountain at Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Hornsby Water Clock in Sydney, Australia.

[edit] See also

• Solar panel
• Spray pool
• Water feature

[edit] Bibliography

• Les Aqueducs e la ville de Rome, translation and commentary by Pierre Grimal, Société d'édition Les Belles Lettres, Paris, 1944.
• Louis Plantier, Fontaines de Provence et de Côte deAzur, Édisud, Aix-en-Provence, 2007
• Frédérick Cope and Tazartes Maurizia, Les fontaines de Rome, Editions Citadelles et Mazenod, 2004

[edit] References and Sources

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fountains

• Fountains of Peterhof, Saint Petersburg, Russia
• Kansas City, "City of Fountains"
• Oregon Museum of Science and History WaterWorks page
• Ontario Science Centre's main fountain (hydraulophone)
• Public fountains in Adelaide, Australia
• European Drinking Water Fountain History resource

[edit] Gallery of Renaissance Fountains

Villa d'Este, Tivoli (1550-1572)

The Organ Fountain at the Villa d'Este, Tivoli (1550-1572)

Fountain of seahorses (hippocampi) in Villa Borghese, Rome, Italy. (1605, redone in 19th century).

[edit] Gallery of Baroque Fountains (17th and 18th Century)

[edit] Gallery of 19th Century Fountains

Flora Fountain in Mumbai, India (1864), representing the goddess Flora, built during the British Raj.

The Queen Victoria memorial water fountain in Vivary Park, Taunton, Somerset, England, United Kingdom. A common design found across the former British Empire, originating from the Saracen Foundry of Glasgow.

[edit] Gallery of Modern Fountains

The Jet d'Eau in Geneva, Switzerland.	A fountain/monument in Austria.	A metal sculpture fountain in Canberra, Australia.	Fountain in the Eaton Centre (across Yonge Street from Dundas Square) basement, Canada.	Double Monopole by Keith Sonnier — 60-foot (18 m) tall sculptures at airport in Kansas City, Missouri, United States.
Namba Walk at Osaka City, Japan.	The World's third Tallest Fountain in Karachi, Pakistan.	Decorative fountain in a central square in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain.	Mikasa Park in Kanagawa, Japan.	Underlit fountain at Forest Park in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States.
thumb|250px|Fountain at Cudahy Gardens in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.	Fountain in the Moscow suburb of Reutov, Russia.	Splash fountain at Dundas Square in Toronto, Canada. The water is heated using solar energy picked up by special dark colored nonslip granite slabs.]]

[edit] Other Kinds of Fountains

Drinking fountain.

People often toss coins into fountains to make a wish.

Fountains provide water to residents in the district of Grussaí, São João da Barra, Brazil.