a few years later, british marine zoologist anne thynne built the first stable and sustained marine aquarium, and maintained a collection of corals and sponges in it for more than three years. in 1836, english doctor nathaniel bagshaw ward proposed to use his invention of the ‘wardian case’ - an early example of a terrarium - to house tropical animals, which he did by 1841 and filled with aquatic plants and toy fish.
The history of aquascaping begins with the innovation of the aquarium in nineteenth century victorian england. Image by peter kirwan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via wikimedia commons aquascape designs can be stylized according to a range of aesthetic influences, including the garden-like ‘dutch style’ and the japanese-inspired ‘nature style’ - but before we dive into types and techniques, we look back at aquascaping history.Ī nature-style aquascape, suggesting mountains ranging from minimal driftwood arrangements to elaborate jungle environments, the resulting compositions are as dynamic as they are distinct, and can form an artful expression in any interior environment. this art of creating an underwater garden within the confines of an aquarium combines architecture, sculpture, painting, landscape management and careful focus on the flora and fauna that live inside. yet there is a discipline dedicated to an entirely different kind of landscape - one that lives in subaquatic spaces - and it’s called aquascaping.
When it comes to the art and architecture of a landscape, parks, plazas, and even pastures may come to mind.