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THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS
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| July 22, 2015 www.watershapes.com |
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FEATURE ARTICLE
Eastern Sensibilities
His clients wanted a home that reflected their refined tastes, writes Randy Beard. The fact that, for a change, others were focused on the challenge of working on a difficult slope freed him to get everything just right with their large spa and understated entryway fountain. [more] |
 START-UP DYNAMICS
It’s something too few designers or builders consider as pool and spa projects come to a close. But as Kim Skinner discusses here, the way water is added to a new plaster-, quartz- or pebble-finished pool can make a huge difference in how the watershape will look later on. [more]
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TRAVELOGUE
Nature’s Studio
A recent trip to Wyoming brought Jim McCloskey face to face with mind-bending forms of natural beauty. But as he relates here, Yellowstone National Park is significantly different from others he’s visited — and a must pilgrimage for inspiration-seeking watershape designers. [more]
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ESSENTIAL
Water in Sculpture
The works of sculptor David Curt Morris often combine moving water with simple yet striking shapes in glass or metal. His meticulous compositions speak to observers by juxtaposing the kinetic potential of water against static structures — perhaps something as simple as water flowing over glass surfaces — to exploit what he calls the ‘colors’ of water in motion. It’s a philosophy and a design approach that cuts to the essence of what watershaping is all about.
This article, originally published in WaterShapes in June 2005, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.
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TECHNICAL BRIEFING
Radiant History
While on the road in Spain, Paolo Benedetti took a quick side-trip and came across some Roman ruins that caught his technical eye. Here, he discusses what he learned about techniques used in heating swimming pools and large public baths in a remote Roman outpost. [more]
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WATERSHAPES WORLD
Righting a Hurtful Wrong
A couple months back, an article about restricting access to public pools in Kansas upset Jim McCloskey quite a bit. His frown turned into a smile, however, when a second story, much more humane, crossed his desk and even gave him a chance to get involved. [more]
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WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .
Popular Culture Dept.: The BBC offers an appreciation of swimming pools’ prominence in film and literature. [more]
It’s great, but also cool that it only scratches the surface.
Concrete, Heal Thyself Dept.: Dutch scientists mix in a bacteria that lets concrete seal its own cracks. [more]
So, maybe a self-filling pothole is next on the list?
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WATERSHAPES CLASSIC
Passion and Practicality
Five years back, Bruce Zaretsky used his column to do some personal reflecting and, along the way, defined the effort it can take to balance two key drivers he identified for his business. [more]
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Waterplay Releases New Splash-Pad Sprays
Waterplay Manufacturing (Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada) has introduced Puddles, a fresh take on traditional ground sprays that brings the fun of jumping in rain puddles to splash areas. Designed with a squishy jump pad, the units are now available in three patterns and encourage users to stomp, dance or hop onto the surface to create water effects. For details, click here. Hayward Offers 115V Variable-Speed Replacement Pump
Hayward Pool Products (Elizabeth, NJ) has introduced the Super Pump VS 115V, a variable-speed pump designed as an easy drop-in replacement for 115V single-speed pumps. Featuring a permanent-magnet motor, the unit is sized for applications with 1-1/2-inch plumbing and can provide up to 80-percent energy savings over single-speed pumps. For details, click here.
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THE AQUATIC QUIZ
What Do a Japanese Zoo’s Elephants
Do After Swimming in Their New Pool?
Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below.
1. The Fuji Safari Park in Japan has built a 65-meter-long, transparent swimming pool
for the zoo’s resident elephants; this allows visitors to observe the huge animals’ underwater movements while they swim laps. According to zoo staff, what activity do the elephants regularly engage in after having swum only three laps a day?
| a. They trumpet loudly for at least five minutes. |
| b. They eat much more than they would otherwise. |
| c. They shake their bodies vigorously, just like dogs. |
| d. They immediately lie down and take a nap. |
2. The warden of a prison in Lima, Peru, was fired recently because inmates at his facility enjoyed which of the following benefits (in exchange for illegal fees paid to the guards)?
| a. Use of a swimming pool |
b. Alcoholic beverages at cell-block parties |
| c. Use of cell phones |
d. All of the above |
3. The Kazan Arena, a large football (soccer) stadium in Kazan, Russia, is being temporarily outfitted to host the FINA World Aquatics Championships, which will take place from July 24 to August 9, 2015. In addition to a new pair of 50-meter aboveground pools, viewing platforms are being constructed to seat how many spectators?
| a. 11,000 |
b. 21,000 |
c. 31,000 |
d. 41,000 |
To find out how many you got right, click here.“
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