News — world famous fountains

Fountains in Russia

When you think about where the most famous outdoor fountains are located, it is likely that Russia will not jump into your mind right away. However, Russia is actually home to many beautiful and famous outdoor fountains. If you have never seen any of these, it may be worth your while to plan a trip to Russia someday. The fountains that we will be discussing today are known as the ‘Friendship of Nations Fountain,’ the ‘Barmaley Fountain,’ the ‘Stone Flower Fountain,’ and the ‘Grand Cascade.’ All of these fountains have a fascinating history that we will be delving into.

The Friendship of Nations Fountain

This ornate fountain can be found in Moscow, Russia. Specifically, it is located near the Russia Exhibition Centre, in a plaza. The fountain showcases 16 statues which are standing in a circle. The statues are meant to represent the members of the former Soviet Union. The fountain was constructed with the purpose of paying homage to the members.

Barmaley Fountain

If you happen to journey through Volgograd, Russia, you may stumble across a fountain known as the Barmaley Fountain. Within the fountain, there are six figures of children, who can be seen dancing around a crocodile. The original fountain was created in the 1930’s, and is actually no longer there. It was restored after nearly being destroyed in the Second World War. After that, it was removed in the 1950s. It was replaced with two replicas a few years back.

The Stone Flower Fountain

 The Exhibition of Economic Achievements in Moscow, Russia is home to something known as the Stone Flower Fountain. Its name and look was based off a flower from a fairy tale ‘The Stone Flower.’ The year that this fountain was constructed was 1954. It had many figures such as birds and fruit. This fountain has musical and lights, and was the first one to do so in the USSR.  

The Grand Cascade

The Grand Cascade is not a singular fountain, but instead is a large group of fountains. There are 64 fountains within the Grand Cascade, including the Samson Fountain. None of the fountains in this ensemble need pumps to operate. They use natural spring water that is collected in reservoirs.

The next time that you are planning a trip, consider going to Russia. Although Russia does not get a lot of recognition for their fountains, it is still worth your while to check it out. The historic fountains that exist there are magnificent to behold. They were all created with a purpose, or to represent something that was happening at the time. Just seeing these pieces can make you feel as though you were part of the history.  

The Hype About World Famous Fountains

All throughout history, the world has been fascinated by the sight of famous fountains. People will plan trips around these fountains, just to get a glimpse. Fountains have been used in films, photo shoots, and music videos. But why are these fountains so popular? What is the appeal of a famous fountain? Let’s take a closer look at the subject.

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is a large monument in Rome. It was constructed in 1762, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Rome. There are legends about the fountain, which have survived and have been passed down from generations for hundreds of years. According to legend, Roman soldiers from long ago were led to the fountain by a young girl. She knew that they needed water quickly to survive, and she wanted to save them.

The Fountain of Wealth

This fountain is located in a city in Singapore. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the largest fountain in the world. This fountain is thought to bring wealth to passerby. People come to see it because they believe they will receive money and good fortune from the fountain. The water is sometimes turned off so that people can walk through it and look for coins. The Fountain of Wealth also has displays of lasers and live singing every day.

Why do these fountains attract people?

For the most part, people are attracted to the beauty of the fountains. Thousands of hours went into planning, creating and implementing the fountain, and people want to show their appreciation of that. Other people are drawn into seeing fountains just so that they can say that they have done it. They want bragging rights for their friends and family. As well, water fountains have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels. People enjoy seeing the rushing water, because it relaxes them. It allows them to just take a few minutes to forget their worries and enjoy the beautiful sight in front of them.

World famous outdoor fountains certainly are appealing. They draw in the attention of tourists as well as natives. The main reasons for visiting world famous fountains are to see the beauty, to get bragging rights, and to reduce their stress levels. There are other, less common reasons for seeing these fountains, but they are not focused on as much. The next time that you are far away on a trip, take a moment to investigate the major attractions of the city. If there is a famous fountain nearby, it may be worth your while to stop by and take a look!

Outdoor Fountains and Art

There are few more things more soothing than the sound of moving water. That is one of the reasons that we enjoy fountains so much. Outdoor fountains are beautiful sculptures that provide the relaxing sound. Outdoor fountains are works of art, and should be appreciated as such. Several outdoor art pieces are also fountains, and we will be discussing these more in detail.   

Delphi Fountain

This outdoor fountain is a part of the Campania collection. It is an outdoor fountain with an intriguing design. There are two risers that support the basin in the middle. When water flows out the top of the basin, it makes its way down the two risers. There is another, larger basin at the bottom to catch the water as it falls. This is a modern looking piece of art, which can be placed in a backyard of any size.

Massarelli Guitar Fountain

This unique piece is a Massarelli product. Constructed with a figure of an acoustic guitar in the center, it appeals to music lovers of all ages. The guitar is positioned on top of a simple pedestal bowl. Instead of sound coming from the music hole of the guitar, water flows through. The water falls through to the basin beneath. There are also lights on this fountain that operate underwater. They light up to enhance the look of this modern piece of artwork.

Low Hourglass Fountain

This is a piece that was created by Henri Studio, which is located in Chicago. The fountain is small in size, making it popular for modest gardens. The figure in the fountain resembles a common hourglass. The water will bubble at the top, and make its way down into the basin below. The fountain is designed to have a minimal splashing effect.

Disappearing Leaf Sculpture Fountain

Another example of the Campania collection would be the Disappearing Leaf Sculpture fountain. The fountain is fairly low to the ground. There is a round basin, covered in pebbles. On top of the pebbles are several stone leaves. The water will flow up the middle of the leaves, and then retreat down the sides. The water then disappears into an unseen reservoir. This fountain encompasses the natural feeling of water flowing smoothly over rocks and pebbles.

A fountain is not just a fountain; it can be so much more than that. An outdoor fountain is a form of art. They have been expertly designed and crafted into intriguing models for us to enjoy. A lot of hard work and time will go into every outdoor fountain that is created. Then they are transported to us, where we can place them in our backyards and enjoy them.

The Buckingham Fountain

One of the largest and most recognized fountains in America is located in Chicago. It is called the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain, or the Buckingham Fountain for short. What makes this fountain stand out from the rest? Why is it so special? Read on to find out!

Appearance

The fountain is very large, as it rises more than 7 meters (23 feet) into the air. Its very large appearance is what makes it so well-known to tourists. There are three basins that the water flows into. Within the basins, there are four pairs of bronze seahorses. The seahorse pairs are representative of each of the four states that surround Lake Michigan, while the large basin represents the actual lake. 

Where is it located?

This particular fountain can be found in the very center of Grant Park. The park is located at Columbus Drive and Congress Parkway in Chicago. It is in operation from early April until approximately mid-October, depending on the weather. From 8am until 11pm, the fountain is on and functioning.

Water display

The Buckingham Fountain attracts visitors to the park by its fascinating water display. Every hour, the water show will last for 20 minutes. Small sprays of water turn into higher and higher jet streams. The central jet will spray water up to 46 meters high. After dusk, the fountain becomes even more interesting. Colorful lights and music are added to the water show. For many years, the water flow was operated manually by engineers with alternating shifts. 1980 was the first year that the water became automated.   

Significance of the name

The funds to create the fountain were donated by Kate Buckingham in honor of her brother, Clarence. She was an art patron and philanthropist who was well-known in Chicago. Kate and Clarence were both lovers of art. They would collect pieces of art, and donate money towards preserving artifacts. In the mid-1920s, Kate was the last remaining member of the Buckingham family. She decided to commemorate her brother’s love for art by initiating a fountain to be built in his name.     

Who built the fountain?

The designer of the fountain was a man named Edward H. Bennett. He had a good reputation in the art of design and sculptures. He had worked alongside others to create the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Edward worked alongside a French sculptor called Marcel Loyau and an engineer named Jacques H. Lambert on the Buckingham Fountain. To make the figures look more realistic, Marcel spent a great deal of time studying a collection of seahorses at an institution in Paris. Together, a small group of people worked hard to create a monumental fountain that is still in operation today.   

The Archibald Fountain

Fountains are created for a variety of reasons. Some simply have the purpose of being placed in backyard gardens and admired. However, others are created for a bigger purpose. For example, a fountain might be sculpted in commemoration of a significant event. This is the case of the Archibald Fountain, which is located in Australia.

Describing the Fountain

A French sculptor name Francois Sicard created the Archibald Fountain in 1932. Its purpose was to signify how Australia and France had come together during World War 1. The fountain is hexagonal in shape. It has a wide diameter, which stretches 18 meters across the middle. In the center, there is a figure of Apollo. Apollo was a god according to Greek and Roman mythology. This figure of Apollo is made out of bronze, and is on a platform above several other mythical figures that are also in the fountain. There is water spraying out of several places. This includes from the heads of the horse, tortoise and dolphin figures. There is also a large arc of water coming up from behind Apollo.

Where is the Fountain?

The Archibald Fountain is located in Sydney, Australia. It can be found in the northern section of Hyde Park. The fountain is a popular stop for meeting places and tourists. It is in an open area, so people enjoy taking photos with it. As well, the park has attractions such as flower gardens and benches for people to sit when they come to visit.

Why is it Called the Archibald Fountain?

The full name for the fountain is the J.F Archibald Memorial Fountain. J.F Archibald was a popular journalist, and founder of the Bulletin magazine. This magazine was considered to be quite radical for the time period. It addressed issues such as culture and identity. The magazine was successful in raising awareness of these issues, as the public would not have found out about them otherwise. J.F Archibald was very interested in art and culture. When he died, he left money in his will for a fountain to be created. This fountain had to be made by a French artist, and it had to depict the relationship between France and Australia during World War 1.

The Sculptor

Francois Sicard was very well-known in France, as well as other countries. At the time that the fountain was being discussed, Sicard had never been to Sydney. He worked with photos and sketches of the selected location instead. When he heard about the job, he submitted three different models of what he pictured the fountain would look like. The first of his models were unanimously voted for, and Sicard was hired for the job. Sicard was an educated man, as he had learned about Greek and Roman art and literature. He was inspired by his studies when he was designing the fountain. This is why he included a figure of Apollo. Apollo represented warmth and protection, which is what Sicard wanted the fountain to showcase.

A Contemporary Water Cascade: The New York City Waterfalls

Creating an astounding view beneath the Brooklyn Bridge is one of New York's prime landmarks, the New York City Waterfalls. Erected as a public art project in collaboration with the Public Art Fund, artist Olafur Eliasson has designed this amazing water feature with four different aspects. The first one, in lower Manhattan, is probably the most famous part of the project. It is perhaps the most expensive public art, costing about $15.5 million, ever since the installation of The Gates by Christo and Jeanne-Claude in Central Park.

The spectacular water feature began its showcase in June 2008 and ran from 7 o'clock in the morning to 10 o'clock in the evening until October of the same year. Such a short lifespan for such an expensive project, right?

Work for the said water feature began sometime in March, 2008. The Governors Island construction teams have employed pile driving in order to use the scaffolding in place, particularly in the Manhattan area. Once completed, the structure would be as tall as 64,000 sq ft and would weigh more than 250 tons. Eliasson has disclosed that these scaffolds were made to harmoniously blend with the urban setting without concealing their unique architecture.

108 people, including environmental advisers, were staffed for the entire project. It was made to be eco-friendly; the lights that illuminated the fountain were made out of LEDs and the energy was purchased from renewable sources. There were filters to keep fish and other marine life away from the waterfall. Eliasson intended that the materials used for the project will be made available for another use later on.

It could be surprising that this $15 million dollar actually had no city funding; that whopping amount was entirely sponsored by different businesses, organizations and donors. The biggest sponsor might be Bloomberg LP, which donated $13.5 million. The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation has given $2 million.

What makes New York City the present cultural center of the world is its large scale public art and mural. This is akin to what Mayor Bloomberg, the biggest supporter of the project, has revealed. He says that this excites the locals and encourages visitors from another state, or even country, to visit this once-in-a-lifetime art piece. Despite of its costly exhibition, the waterfalls open a new chapter in the city's cultural legacy.

The four water features are installed in New York's famous commercial and industrial places. Through this project, Eliasson hopes that the audience will truly ponder about the relationship of water and structures to the spectacular metropolitan surroundings. The aim is to boost a sense of collectivity throughout the duration of the show.

A fountain can truly unify the art piece to its surroundings. You too, can have your very own modern outdoor fountain, without the hefty price, and the short duration. Make it last forever by installing it in the best areas of your garden so you can enjoy the sights and sound of the water lapping into the sculpture. Visit our store and discover a range of modern, contemporary water features that will fit your property. Shop now!