Water Fountain in Iron and Aluminium Cast Utensils

Abstract

Iron has been the most ridiculed material (main and auxiliary) in the production of water fountains generally. Its use has been questionable, because of its ability to easily rust when it comes into contact with water and oxygen. However, iron is a material that is relatively strong and elegant in looks when manipulated in art forms such as ornamental furniture. This is the primary motivation for engaging iron as a fountain material. To think of auxiliary materials, the diversification fountain materials also again influenced the choice of the aluminium utensils, because they have forms that can easily be employed in the production of fountains. This study is a material based design that employed iron with Aluminium cast utensils as the main materials. in this regard, the properties of aluminium and iron that make them suitable for the production of water fountains were duly analysed to inform the design. Also the functional and aesthetic properties of selected aluminium utensil were also assessed to underpin the design. This was followed by the well informed selection of appropriate finishes that have the right preservative properties for the iron. The design ensued from series of sketches through to a selected final plan the informed and directed the construction of the fountain. The aluminium cast utensils and types of iron were sample purposively according to the dictates of the design. The study resulted in a well fabricated indoor water fountain using the two materials namely iron and the Aluminium cast utensils. In conclusion, this study has been able to identify and creatively adapted some Iron forms and Aluminium Cast Utensils, guided by selected literature for the production of a fountain