Lovejoy fountain

Our final trip of the year takes us to the northern far west, where the Oregon Trail ends – right to heart of Downtown Portland. Oregon is home to a very unique and now historic fountain that was completed in 1966 by American Landscape artist Lawrence Halprin. He was a well rounded man and his style of architecture was modern. He also taught and designed, earning a Bachelors from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.

Now let’s learn a bit more about the state of Oregon. Before becoming a state, Oregon was inhabited by many indigenous tribes and settlers who created their own government in 1843. This land became known as the Oregon Territory and which eventually became the state of Oregon on February 14th 1859.

The City of Portland
Portland is Oregon’s largest city, and is nestled near the Willamette and Columbia rivers. The city is known for its public transportation systems and great land planning, the latter of which has earned Portland the reputation as one of the world’s most environmentally friendly cities. Locals enjoy Portland’s many microbreweries and rose gardens, especially because Portland is described as very outdoor friendly city with many outdoor activities. Portland was incorporated in 1851 and is located near the end of the Oregon Trail.

The Lovejoy Name
The Lovejoy fountain was the first in a series of fountains created for the South Auditorium District – a renewal district project with the aim to enrich the city. The fountain sits within the Lovejoy Plaza, a one-acre plaza designed by Halprin + Associates and Satoru Nishita, partner-in-charge. The plaza sits only 300 yards away from Pettygrove Park. The Lovejoy fountain is the centerpiece of the Lovejoy plaza which is connected to other parks including the famous Keller Fountain Park.

The fountain itself is named after Asa Lovejoy, one of the first landowners of the Portland Town site. Halprin the landscape architect formed the Halprin Landscape Conservancy in 2001 to enhance and protect the Lovejoy Plaza, the Ira Keller fountain and Pettyprove Park.

The fountain itself mimics a waterfall and creates the effect of rushing streams of water that complement the placid pool of water nearby. The entire space was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in March 2013.

Magic Fountain of Montjuic

The Holidays are here and what better way to enjoy such a great time than to travel? This week our journey take us to Barcelona, Spain! Home of one of the world’s best football teams, FC Barcelona. Barcelona is also known as being a collection of great architecture and art.

From the City’s iconic Camp Nou stadium, our destination takes us South East to one of Barcelona’s most popular locations, the Plaça d’Espanya – another monument made for the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition. Following the Avenida Maria Christina to the end we encounter the Magic Fountain of Montjuic.

The Fountain is sits on the porch of the national palace but also near a very important Italian styled building erected back in 1929, known as the National Art Museum of Catalonia. While the building has been standing for 84 years, it was only until 1990 that it was made into a national museum.

However, our focus today is not on historic buildings or intense soccer rivalry known as ‘el clasico,’ but on the very special Magic Fountain of Montjuic. The fountain was built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition and was completed just a day before the exposition began.

Carles Buigas, the fountain’s engineer and designer faced some opposition when he proposed to build a fountain that would rely on mechanical jets to shoot streams of water into the air. Many argued that the project would not be completed in a year’s time for the Barcelona International Exposition.

Over the years the fountain has seen many changes and renovations. During the Spanish Civil war, the fountain was badly damaged and was not operational until 1955. In the 80s the fountain added music and for the 1992 Summer Olympics, the fountain was completely restored.

The fountain pumps 2,600 litters of water per second and reticulates water using 3 concentric pools. The fountains jets are illuminated to give a great fountain lighting experience. The fountain design has stayed virtually unchanged despite many renovations during the years. Many say this was one of the first fountains to synchronize music with lights and water, and remains to this day one of Barcelona’s most popular attractions.

Fountain Schedule

The Midnight Rainbow Fountain

Today we are going to have a little bit of fun and use our imagination. Instead admiring the conventional walk-up fountain that sprays up – or pours down, we are going to drive on this fountain! Well, technically, we are going to drive over the bridge on which the fountain is affixed. Do I have your attention yet? To make things more interesting, this fountain also happens to be the world’s longest fountain, falling just shy of a mile long – that’s a whopping 4,905ft long!

So where are we exactly? Seoul, South Korea, on the Banpo bridge that crosses the Han River. This two-tiered, downtown Seoul bridge connects the Seocho and Yongsan districts – it is also partially submersible. When the river’s water level rises, the lower section of the bridge is coved completely by water. However, what attracts the most tourists and the attention of locals is the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain.

The beautifully designed fountain sits along the sidebars of the bridge and uses 200 lights to illuminate the bridge beautifully during dark nights. The custom fountain is lauded for being environmentally friendly because it recycles the Han River’s water – an estimated 190 tons per minute without wasting a single drop. The custom fountain was installed September 2009, and has a total of 380 nozzles and requires 38 pumps to feed its appetite. Those powerful pumps propel beautifully colored water streams up to 20 meters high and 43 meters away.

So if you are ever in South Korea and can visit Seoul, make sure to drive over the Banpo Bridge and see the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain in action! The fountain operates from April to October, with 20-minute shows five times Monday – Thursday, six times on Friday, and seven times on the Weekends.

The Fountain of Wealth

This week my travels take me to Singapore, a sovereign city-state located off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The island was founded in 1819 and gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1963, separating a second time from Malaysia in September of 1963.

The Island is known for its great casinos, medical tourism and education, but I’m after something specific. Located in the southern part of the island within the Marina Center sector, a reclaimed land zone known as the downtown core houses 5 buildings and a convention center known as Suntec City. Within this multi-use development center turned mall is one special fountain.

The Fountain of Wealth is listed as 2008’s Guinness Book of Records largest fountain. During the day, the fountain is turned off and visitors are encouraged to walk around the fountain’s central fountain and collect coins for good luck. During night hours, the fountain is the center of laser performances and between 8-9 PM special laser dedication messages can be made.

The fountain is the hub of the mall, located in the center. If the entire Suntec City sector were viewed from above, its five buildings and convention center would form a hand. Build in 1995, the fountain is inspired by the Hindu Mandala, a symbol for ‘oneness in spirit and unity’ and the word itself means ‘universe.’ The fountain is made of a 108 ft diameter silicon bronze ring held up by four slanted columns. The fountain stands at over 45 feet and its base is located underground.

The fountain symbolizes the equality and harmony of all races and religions in Singapore.

Thrasher Memorial Fountain

 
“I’m on my way, I’m going back to Alabam.”

Yes, it’s true folks, my travels take to The Heart of Dixie, to a city known as the Watercress capital of the world. Anyone know what I’m talking about?

Well, if you guessed Huntsville Alabama then you guessed correctly, and I commend you for your excellent knowledge of North American History. Extra points to those who were able to identify the the song “Alabam,” by Cowboy Copas!

The city of Huntsville is home to several cool attractions, history and culture – it’s the perfect place to find a special fountain known as the Big Spring Park Fountain located in Big Spring Park.
 

 
The fountain, the centerpiece of the park, was donated back in 2005 and is accompanied by a plaza with benches and landscaping. The fountain sits within a circular basin that is connected by a canal extension which feeds to an open body of water. The Thrasher family donated the park in memory of their father Tom Thrasher. The fountain construction was made to memorialize healthy living for the people of Huntsville.

The fountain design has been the center piece of some local fun and for St. Patrick’s Day, the fountain and its canal are dyed green to celebrate the special day.

Other fun attractions in Huntsville include the NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command. Finally, if you are in town, the Panoply Arts Festival should give you something to think about.