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2013/9.1, September 11 — Amazing Dream Pools, Designing a Beach Entry, Dodging ‘Dead Spots’ and more
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2013/9.1, September 11 — Amazing Dream Pools, Designing a Beach Entry, Dodging ‘Dead Spots’ and more


September 11, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Carving in Jade

For more than 25 years, architect Nick Troubetzkoy has envisioned a uniquely natural resort on the island of St. Lucia: No telephones, no televisions, no clocks — just a complete separation from the workaday world in a setting of unmatched beauty. Now he’s realized his dreams in Jade Mountain, a marvel of organic architectural design and host to more than two dozen vanishing-edge pools and waterfeatures set amidst hanging gardens.

This article, originally published in April 2007, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

WHAT IS IT?

#7: Beach Entry

Gracefully sloping beach entries are hot commodities these days — a fact that motivated Mike Farley to jump into a pool under construction to film a brief video showing what goes into making these features work and exploring why they’ve become so popular among his clients. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Avoiding ‘Dead Spots’

The complexities of today’s swimming pools raise the need for designers and builders to set up circulation systems that keep all of the water moving. Here’s how to get it done, writes Mike Fowler, from selecting the correct pump to doing the right thing with the plumbing layout. [more]

PONDCRAFT 101

Setting the Wall

The installation of a pond can be a fairly straightforward process if you get a couple of the early steps right, says Eric Triplett. In this video, he walks viewers through one of the most important of those steps: setting up a retaining wall that will help lock key components in place. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

A Good Win

One of San Francisco’s most significant watershapes recently squared off with the desires of Apple to remodel the retail space beside it, notes Jim McCloskey. Given Apple’s clout, the outcome was unexpected — and very good news for fans of the city’s ‘Fountain Lady.’ [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Over the Edge

Common to so many watershapes, weirs play key roles in the performance of everything from vanishing edges to waterfalls. But common does not mean simple, says Steve Gutai, launching into a discussion of how these edges fit in as components in hydraulic designs. [more]

TRAVELOGUE
Breathtaking Beauty

A visit to the Missouri Botanical Garden has long delighted those who appreciate its array of garden types and styles. During the past 30 years, notes Kerry Friedman, many of these areas have been augmented by waterfeatures and fountains that bring new interest to the grounds. [more]

 © Alain Lacroix | Dreamstime.com

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

While supplies last, you can purchase one of 8 available complete, mint-condition, 131-issue sets of WaterShapes, a print publication that set the tone for development of the art and craft of watershaping from February 1999 until July 2011. For ordering information, click here!

Fifth Time’s the Charm . . .
Diana Nyad Finally Achieves Her
Dream Swim from Cuba to Florida

[more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

On a Wire

The Internet has been with us for some time, but that doesn’t mean that everyone was fully on board (and satisfied) when Brian Van Bower wrote this insightful evaluation of the state of the art in September 2008. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Next: Diana Nyad to Swim
48 Hours for a Good Cause


Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. Diana Nyad plans to follow up her successful swim from Cuba to Florida by swimming 48 hours straight in a specially designed New York City pool. The effort by the 64-year-old aquatic legend will raise money for what good cause?

a. Helping victims of Hurricane Sandy b. Funding breast cancer research
c. Funding diabetes research d. Helping children of people killed on 9/11.

2. Princess Charlene of Monaco — wife of Prince Albert II, Monaco’s reigning monarch — has gotten back in the water for a charity swimming event, which is aimed at raising money to increase children’s awareness of water safety. Although the former Charlene Wittstock retired from competitive swimming in 2007, she represented her native country in the 2000 Olympic Games. What is her native country?

a. Australia b. New Zealand c. Canada d. South Africa.

3. According to a recent survey in the U.K., the #1 feature that people aspire to include in their dream home has to do with a swimming pool. What did 36% of those surveyed dream of having?

a. A vanishing-edge pool b. An indoor pool
c. An outdoor pool heated year-round d. A solar-heated pool.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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