THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS
October 19, 2016 www.watershapes.com
FEATURE ARTICLE
Defined by Details
When Jimmy Reed approaches intersections of planes in tile surfaces, he sizes up the situation and figures out ways to complete the transitions with polished visual dexterity. It’s not easy work, but he knows that these deft touches turn the common into the awesome. [more]
FEATURE ARTICLE
Themes, Anyone?
He’s a longtime believer in using naturalistic approaches in pond design and installation. But lately, Mike Gannon has also spent some time questioning that foundation — and wondering out loud if there might be value in looking at his design options in new and divergent ways. [more]
TRAVELOGUE
The Lakers and Linda Blair
When the weather’s nice, Minneapolis has a lot to offer visitors. This includes a beautiful fountain in Loring Park, writes Jim McCloskey, with a backstory that features both a scary (but highly successful) movie from the 1970s and a fabulous (but portable) 1950s sports franchise. [more]
ESSENTIAL
Life in an Oasis
The Entrada Golf Course on the outskirts of St. George, Utah, stands at the heart of an unusual cluster of housing developments. For more than five years, watershaper Richard Allen worked non-stop to integrate the entire, grand composition through its watershapes, from big lakes and watercourses to intimate streams that run along the property lines of many of the homes — all in the name of creating a much-desired oasis in an arid landscape.
This article, originally published in WaterShapes in October 2004, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.
TECHNICAL BRIEFING
Singing the Relief-Valve Blues
If a hydrostatic relief valve is put in improperly or not at all, observes Scott Cohen, it can result in a catastrophic situation — one that can leave homeowners with repair bills so monumental that they’ll do everything in their power to extract the costs from careless builders. [more]
WATERSHAPES WORLD
Mission: New Orleans
It’s nearly November: Are you ready for the annual gathering of the tribes known as the International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo? Jim McCloskey is — almost — and will be there in Booth 563 to chat with friends old and new while on an important WaterShapes mission. [more]
WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .
Fountain Perfection Dept.: Italian vintner sets up a 24/7 red-wine fountain on a hallowed pilgrimage road. [more]
They say it’s definitely not for drunkards. Time will tell . . .
When in Rome Dept.: Fashion’s House of Fendi uses Trevi Fountain as the stage for a runway show. [more]
I guess funding its restoration brought some privileges.
WATERSHAPES CLASSIC
Paying the Frontrunner Fee
Back in November 2001, Brian Van Bower wrote with characteristic passion in his Aqua Culture column about the demands of creativity and the necessity of getting involved with it in a highly motivating way. [more]
THE SHOPPING CART
Multi-Stage Pond Filters from OASE
OASE (Corona, CA) makes the BioTec 18000 multi-stage mechanical/ biological filter for large ponds or ponds with many fish. The mechanical filter captures particles and debris on a 300-micron mesh that cleans itself automatically. The biological filter uses foam loaded with beneficial bacteria to convert ammonia and nitrites to plant-supporting nitrates. For details, click here.
Lightcraft Improves Its Bistro Lighting
Lightcraft Outdoor Environments (Chatsworth, CA) has upgraded its 12-volt LED S14 Bistro Lamps, now with sealed construction and improved circuitry. Sold by the foot and available with 24-inch spacing between sockets, the strings are also available as 120-volt systems; with shades; and with optional 15-inch spacing between sockets. For details, click here.
WPN UPDATE
Accessible Resources
The WaterShapes Professional Network is a credible, unified web presence where consumers can find uniformly formatted, easily processed information. It gives them initial access to the marketplace in an environment that guides them comfortably and confidently through the earliest stages of a significant purchasing decision.
Some homeowners and facility managers are lucky enough when they start looking for watershapes to have friends or colleagues who can refer them to suitable firms. But more often, these consumers are on their own — and most start by searching on the Internet, where finding individual watershapers is a hit-and-miss process. WPN takes the frustration out of the quest by offering a common, neutral web resource filled with possibilities.
The Network is working just the way we’d hoped: Time to click aboard?
