2011/7.1, July 13 — Olympic Aquatic Centre, Healthy Ponds, Ripples and more

July 13, 2011

WATERSHAPES.COM

PHOTO GALLERY

The Controversial Aquatics Venue
For London’s 2012 Olympic Games

The London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympics — with its striking, wavelike roof — was designed to be a distinctive, futuristic venue for swimming, diving and other water-based events. Unfortunately, the project has been plagued by problems and troubling issues from its inception. Learn more about the controversial complex and see how it will look once completed. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Fundamental Keys to Healthy Ponds

Maintaining a backyard pond in healthy condition is a pretty complicated undertaking — right? Not according to Ed Beaulieu, chief sustainability officer for watershape design and installation company Aquascape. Still, he says, it does require ‘thoughtful use of a range of systems and components — every one of which is needed to create [these] low-maintenance slices of paradise.’ [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

The Path to Better Times

Even though the watershaping industry has faced an extremely difficult business environment in the past two to three years, publisher Jim McCloskey writes in the latest installment of the WaterShapes World blog, ‘I know for a fact that there are better times ahead for professionals who design and build with water. How do I know? Certainly not because of any psychic powers or crystal ball.’ So…how does he know? [more]

Head of International Monetary Fund: Synchronized Swimming Champion And Whip-Wielding Dominatrix? [more]

BOOK NOTES

Reading to Reshape My Mental Outlook

According to Mike Farley, the very tough watershaping business climate of 2010 has made an astonishing turnaround in 2011 — at least, for him. Writes Farley: “What has changed, I believe, is my own thinking and approach to the business, a shift I attribute to three books I’ve read repeatedly in the past seven months.” He reveals — and reviews — the three titles here. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Which Is the Tallest Fountain in the World?

Decorative fountains have delighted humans since ancient times — but modern technology now enables them to shoot water to previously unimaginable heights.

Which is the world’s “tallest” fountain (that is, which sends water skyward the farthest)?