Beautiful indoor water features, like the Hearthfall, have a lengthy and interesting history that extends back hundreds of years. But like many modern conveniences, they have evolved from basic necessity to luxury.

Irrigation and Survival
The earliest fountains in America were used mostly for irrigation of crops and their animals—not for decorative uses in gardens or homes—and took the form of simple sprinklers or even hoses trickling water into troughs. The owner's most important concern was for the farm, and water features functioned as a source of survival. However, if the landowner was wealthy enough to have decorative water features, he still wanted them to be easy to clean and operate. Such needs have carried through the years and are reflected in the Hearthfall, which is virtually maintenance free.

Social Gatherings
In the early centuries of Ancient Greece and Rome, however, water features were used less for survival and more to decorate outdoor courtyards and plush gardens. They were places where social gatherings occurred between friends, family, or acquaintances. Only the wealthiest people with grand homes would have such exotic displays of water.

Religious Meditation
Water features were also prominent in monasteries and abbeys as a way for people to feel peace and be able to meditate on their life. Most were placed in the center of a courtyard where anyone could come, sit, and think about their life with God. The monasteries were influenced by the Persians of earlier centuries who used the fountains in their gardens to enhance meditation.

Garden Fixures and Mood Enhancers
In the non-Western world, people have used fountains for centuries. The Muslims were inspired by their hot and dry climate to center their gardens around the use of water features. These gardens had enclosed courts surrounded by water and were enhanced with colored tiles, sprightly fountains and soothing pools. Japan— world-famous for its water features that exude peace and harmony—was influenced by the use of fountains from some of its neighboring countries, such as China and Korea.

Modern-Day American Trends
In the first half of the twentieth century in America, architecture has tried to bring the outside surroundings of the house inside to enhance the interior. More and more homes, especially those in affluent neighborhoods and with mild climates, have extended their gardens into the house to include water features as part of the decorating. There is also a trend of making water features expressly for indoor use to bring into the home the tranquility of calming water that has for centuries been used outdoors. Fountains have also become more popular in decorating malls and office complexes, and offer a sense of peacefulness in an otherwise hectic environment.