2019 Editions (January-June) | Newsletters

The web site for all professionals and consumers who've made or want to make water a part of their lives

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

June 19, 2019 www.watershapes.com

GARDEN ENCHANTMENT

Constrained Expanse

Wrapping up a three-part series on his water-rich botanical gardens, Raymond Jungles notes that these institutions are often narrowly focused while wanting to be as inclusive as possible. It's a duality that kept him busy in Miami Beach as he tried to fit all he could into a compact space. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Floating Stones

Using a concept based on no more than a photograph he'd once spotted online, Jerry Romano traversed uncharted territory to reverse-engineer the 'mystery fountain' that now serves as his company's calling card along a heavily wooded stretch of New Jersey road. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Stepping in Style

A quick trip to downtown Los Angeles carried Jim McCloskey on his umpteenth visit to the wonderful waterfeature that cascades down the center of the Bunker Hill Steps. It's the work of Lawrence Halprin -- well worth a stop if you don't mind climbing a few dozen stairs! [more]

ESSENTIAL

A Hit on the High Seas

One of the most unusual watershape systems ever built, the AquaTheater on the 'Oasis of the Seas' was the first theatrical waterfeature ever installed on a cruise ship. In this special two-in-one article, Fluidity's Jim Garland and Tom Yankelitis begin with a description of the ideas and the design process that led to creation of this shipboard super-fountain, then Crystal Fountains' Ritesh Khetiadiscusses the engineering and systems-integration solutions that make it all work.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in November 2010, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Containing Glare

Glare is the bane of any lighting installer, notes Mike Gambino. But there's little to fear if you're familiar with the range of products and accessories he describes here in a detailed discussion of techniques he uses to keep garden visitors happily squint-free after the sun goes down. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

A Day to Swim

Out of the blue a week ago, Jim McCloskey received an email from Dave Penton declaring June 21 of this year as the first-ever International Swim Day. It was short notice, of course, but in the Internet Age, just about anything is possible if enough of us decide to get involved. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO . . .

Oh, Really? Dept.: Architect plans a 360-degree acrylic-wall pool for entire top floor of a London high-rise.

[more]

Sure, it'll be amazing, but does it make any sense at all?

More, Please Dept.: New York pool invites artists to paint its decks to greet the arrival of each new summer. [more]

It's a highly portable idea. Why not get one going nearby?

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Solid Foundations

Back in June 1999, Brian Van Bower used his Aqua Culture column to share his personal and professional insights into an Asian philosophy that helps him in influencing people and gaining results. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Air-O-Lator Debuts Nu-Wave Fountain

Air-O-Lator (Grandview, MO) has added the Nu-Wave decorative floating fountain system to its product line. Designed for applications in which electrical power entering the water is prohibited or undesired, the device's transfer pump pulls water out of the pond to dry land before pushing it back to the fountain and a variety of available spray nozzles. For details, click here.

Wooden Diving Boards by Mikel Tube

Mikel Tube Collection (Opwijk, Belgium) handcrafts the Revelation 1 wooden diving board. Made from Ipé and featuring anti-slip slots at the end of the board, this model is 96 inches long, 17 inches wide and ranges from one to three inches in thickness. Boards can be prepared to account for a diver's weight and come in light, medium and dark shades. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Another Tool

in the Box

Watershapers have an amazing ability to produce spectacular work -- but oftentimes real difficulty when it comes to calling their skills and talents to the attention of homeowners and others who are interested in making water part of their daily lives.

That's where the WaterShapes Professional Network comes in: By building a collective web presence in which dozens and, ultimately, hundreds of sites participate as an interlinked colossus, it involves watershapers in a group entity large enough that the search engines can't overlook it. So if it's a strong (or stronger) web presence you're after, check it out.

The Network is working just the way we'd hoped: Time to click aboard?

Add new comment

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

June 5, 2019 www.watershapes.com

COLLABORATIVE ART, I

Refined Parameters

The stakes for a watershape designer are pretty high when the client is a noted architect, observes Shane LeBlanc -- particularly when you're working 3,000 miles from your home base and need to find professionals capable of bringing your bold, ambitious ideas to life. [more]

COLLABORATIVE ART, II

Embracing a Vision

Building high-end watershapes to other professionals' specifications gives Dave Penton the opportunity to work on a wide range of great projects -- and occasionally, as in the one covered here, the chance to do so in the company of good friends and respected colleagues. [more]

COLLABORATIVE ART, III

Swiss Precision

Working with unusually large material is a distinct technical challenge in tile application, reports Jimmy Reed. As always, planning and surface preparation are crucial, but the keys in this specific project were patience, skill and a raw determination to stick to a simple, elegant grid. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Free and Clear

Along with an increasing demand for large, naturalistic watershapes in both residential and commercial settings has come an unprecedented desire for exceptional water quality in those bodies of water, says George Forni, a specialist in the design, construction and maintenance of lakes, ponds and streams. Here, using several of his projects in northern California as examples, he discusses just what it takes to meet both the demand and the desire.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in January 2004, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

A Classic Restored

Built in the 1930s and covering nearly half an acre, the pool at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Fla., is one of the country's oldest, largest and most historic swimming pools. Restoring it on a short timeline was no easy task, notes Steve Lucas, but now it's ready for you to visit. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Collaborative Artists

In this very special edition of the WaterShapes newsletter, writes Jim McCloskey, you'll find a trio of articles offering perspectives on a single project as told by three top-flight watershapers. It's a summertime treat -- and dynamic testimony to the power of artful teamwork. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO . . .

Incredible Oops Dept.: A fountain near Walt Disney World is rushing to correct a glaring spelling error.

[more]

You'd think this sort of typo would be impossible here.

Quelle Concept! Dept.: Architect floats the idea of adding a pool in the restoration of a fire-ravaged cathedral. [more]

It'll never happen, of course, but the image is breathtaking.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Now You See It

Inspiration is where you find it -- even when it comes to drain covers, wrote David Tisherman in June 2004, which is why he's so focused on getting out and seeing what others have done with his own eyes. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Hayward Launches the TriVac 700 Cleaner

Hayward Pool Products (Elizabeth, NJ) has introduced the TriVac 700 pressure-side pool cleaner. Designed to skim debris from the surface of the water as well as thoroughly vacuum the pool floors, walls and coves, the device has a wide suction inlet, a large debris bag, a jet-propelled drive and protective wheels for gentle treatment of pool surfaces. For details, click here.

CCEI Offers Transformer for Pool Lights

CCEI USA (Inglewood, CA) manufactures 12-14 volt Safety AC Transformer designed specifically to power pool and spa lights. The units allow for direct connection of underwater fixtures, has two compartments to maintain the separation of primary and secondary connections and includes a circuit breaker to protect against overloads. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Gaining Ground

with Consumers

These days, the Internet is the information resource of choice for those looking for a huge array of goods and services. But it's tough for an individual business to capture eyes amid the bewildering quantity of options facing consumers as they try to find ways to make something like a pool, pond or fountain part of their home or working lives.

That's why we started the WaterShapes Professional Network -- a portal consumers are using to get basic information about pool. pond and fountain designers and builders before they start making direct phone calls to arrange for site visits and bids. It's a new way of making initial contacts and getting in the game!

The Network is working just the way we'd hoped: Time to click aboard?

Add new comment

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

May 15, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Adopted Vision

Building a project to another designer's plan can be awkward when you notice flaws you might have helped address. In this case, notes Tanr Ross, the results were truly spectacular -- but assessing the 'deficiencies' taught him valuable lessons he'll always carry with him. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Gravel's Virtues

Puzzled by its bad reputation among some of his clients, Mike Gannon began doing research on gravel. He'd always believed in its value, he says, but found a rich history that now aids in him on occasions when he needs to talk his clients through their moments of doubt. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

White House Adjacent

If you're willing to step just a few long blocks beyond the usual tourist attractions on your next visit to Washington, D.C., writes Jim McCloskey, you can see a grand waterfeature at a deeply historic but little-known park -- all within a short distance of the Capitol Mall. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Natural Intuitions

The thing that makes a painting great isn't the pigment mixed on the palette or the brush used to apply it. Those are merely tools, observes landscaper Jim Lampl, who finds art and beauty in the way the strokes are laid on the canvas. The same holds true for watershapes, he says: The art and beauty aren't in the stones or plantings, but in the way all of the components and materials are composed on site.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in October 2000, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Illuminating Footsteps

It's rare, writes Mike Gambino, but some homeowners will decide to omit path and step lighting from their backyards. That's short-sighted for a whole list of reasons he covers here in this discussion of ways to make outdoor spaces much more welcoming once the sun goes down. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

The Client Experience

The start of a big construction project is a major event for any homeowner, even when it's Jim McCloskey and he's already familiar with the processes, knows what's coming next and can appreciate what he's seen so far in the crews that have invaded his personal space. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO . . .

Pop-Up Cascade Dept.: Waterfalls are taking their place in the realm of grand-scale architectural ornaments.

[more]

From airports to city centers, see how they set the scene.

Lazy Days Dept.: PoolCandy offers motorized floats that take all the effort out of moving around a pool. [more]

No more kicking, paddling or pushing off walls? Sweet!

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Gearing Up

It's too late to wait until the busy season starts to take stock of tools and equipment and get them ready to go. As Bruce Zaretsky wrote back in May 2009, an earlier, more systematic approach is required. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Outdoor Fountains from Ulrich Pakker

Ulrich Pakker Studios (Seattle, WA) makes Drunken Lotus fountains for commercial and residential applications. Featuring natural shapes, movement and lighting, the design sends clear streams of water arcing through the air and includes a base/reservoir that can be buried or surface-mounted and has a float-level valve to keep the pump from running dry. For details, click here.

TigerDeck Offers Hardwood Decking

TigerDeck (Portland, OR) manufactures strong, durable decking systems made with Tigerwood. Available in a variety of deck-board sizes, the material naturally resists rot and insect damage and comes from sustainable forests ranging from southern Mexico to Argentina. It's also compatible with the company's hidden-fastening system. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

All Set

for 2019?

No marketing or promotional plan you have for 2019 (and beyond) will be complete without putting the WaterShapes Professional Network to work on your company's behalf. You produce spectacular projects; WPN is here to help you call your skills and talents to the attention of homeowners and others who are interested in making water part of their daily lives.

To make that happen, we've built a collective web presence the search engines can't overlook. So if it's a strong (or stronger) web presence you're after, check it out!

The Network is working just the way we'd hoped: Time to click aboard?

Add new comment

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

May 1, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Educational Flows

The opportunity to work on a project where teaching is the objective is hard to resist, notes Ed Beaulieu. But making it happen in ways that entertain while they educate is quite a feat when the underlying messages are as complex and significant as they are at Reed Street Yards. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Planting a Pool

Originally published in January 2011, this article covered an unusual New Jersey project in which James Robyn built a pool that was meant to seem like a pond -- and sets the stage for a second article (coming next time) about what it took to revise it as a true 'natural swimming pool.' [more]

DESIGN DYNAMICS

The Show Begins

In the second part of his series on the design process, Kurt Kraisinger takes us through the initial stages -- client contact, site visits, design meetings and more -- as the pieces of the puzzle scattered across Part 1 begin to coalesce into a coherent, workable design scheme. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Therapy Power

For centuries, human beings have turned to immersion and exercise in water as a means of healing injuries and illnesses and of promoting both physical and mental health. Researchers have investigated the hows and whys of these phenomena for years, and the benefits seem to be even more remarkable than originally thought. There's still much to learn, writes Eric Herman, but there's already more than enough good news for watershapers to share with motivated clients.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in December 2006, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Community in Action

The hamlet of Wyandanch, N.Y., needed something special to set itself on a new path. As Joseph Serpe reports, that 'something' is a spray park you should see when you travel to Long Island: Its wilderness-themed space is filled with interactive waterfeatures and two remarkable trees. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

The Swimming's Fine

Wrapping up comments he began offering in March on a book about the history of swimming, Jim McCloskeymarvels at its wealth of information and praises the author's passion for his subject while noting a few spots where some restraint might've made a good book even better. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO . . .

Silly Stuff Dept.: A pair of musicians filled this pool with cellos to probe issues of immediate public interest.

[more]

No playable instruments were injured to make it happen.

More Silly Stuff Dept.: French designers set up grand (but weird) waterfeatures on Paris's Champs-Elysées. [more]

Costly crystals were harmed in creating these un-fountains.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Preserving History

Neighbors can get touchy about what's happening with a nearby project, wrote Stephanie Rose in her column of May 2004. Click here to read a story about how she navigated one unusually intense incident.

THE SHOPPING CART

Upgraded Spa Air Blowers from Hayward

Hayward Pool Products (Elizabeth, NJ) has launched an improved spa blower. Designed to deliver quiet performance and powerful streams of soothing bubbles, the units install easily and have durable motors with thermal switches and replaceable brushes for extended life. There's also a full-spring check valve to prevent water from reaching the motor. For details, click here.

Fountain People Updates Fountain-in-a-Can

Fountain People (San Marcos, TX) has added new features to its Fountain-in-a-Can series. The FIAC-1000 features a flush-mount, multi-pattern spray system; a 360-degree, low-voltage LED light fixture; an internal throttling valve; and an ADA-compliant grate -- all designed for use with plaza-style waterfeatures as well as interactive splash pads. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Collective

Passion

Those of you who design and build pools, spas, fountains, ponds, streams, waterfalls and other forms of contained, controlled water have an amazing ability to produce works of great beauty. But you also face real challenges when it comes to conveying messages about your skills and talents to consumers and prospective clients who might be interested in having you help them make water part of their daily lives.

That's where the WaterShapes Professional Network can help: We've built a web presence in which dozens of designers and builders of watershapes of all types participate as an Internet colossus -- a grouped entity large and interconnected enough that the search engines have to treat it with respect. So if it's a strong (or even just a stronger) web presence you're after, please do take a look and get involved.

The Network is working just the way we'd hoped: Time to click aboard?

Add new comment

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

April 17, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Northern Exposure

Building an elaborate, choreographed fountain in a public place is always a technical and logistical challenge. But in this case, note J. Wickham Zimmerman and Chris Roy, the stakes were significantly raised by the developer's bold vision as well as the project's geographic location. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Positive Agitation

Jets and sprays are welcome additions to ponds because they look great. But if the designer or installer follows a few key guidelines outlined here by Roy Watkins, the list of benefits will expand to include an overall improvement in water quality and a healthier environment for fish. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Demodeling

A recent visit to San Diego took Jim McCloskey back to a fountain he'd seen and admired as a youngster. The old waterfeature is still there, he says, but the surrounding plaza was so different and visually scattered that the experience turned from nostalgia to sadness. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Space Savers

Watershaper Michael Nantz has designed and installed projects across a wide range of styles, budgets and overall levels of complexity. Among the most challenging and ultimately satisfying of all those designs, he says, are those that unfold in the yards of clients who want to make significant personal statements -- but in very small spaces. Here, we take a look at two such projects, both of which prompted him to summon up all of his creativity.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in May 2006, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Designing for Depth

When it comes to lighting landscapes, observes Mike Gambino, it's important to get trees involved because their sizes, shapes and visual textures are so engaging. And all it takes to make it work, he suggests, is putting two fundamental lighting approaches to good use. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Beyond Irritating

Truth be told, Jim McCloskey has always had a hard time staying quiet when confronted by sloppy reasoning. In this case, he's become unusually peeved by the silly set of arguments offered in an article that advises homeowners to rip out their swimming pools, the sooner the better. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO . . .

Spectacular Parade Dept.: An architecture magazine highlights the aquatic delights of 25 great hotels.

[more]

But really, it's much more about the settings than the pools!

DIY Madness Dept.: Working by hand, a man digs a pool and home someplace in the middle of nowhere. [more]

I just have to ask: Where do they find these people?

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Operating on a Higher Level

Working with upper-echelon clients takes a special level of preparation and skill, wrote Brian Van Bower back in 2004. To uncover one key factor that he says is more important than all the rest, start by clicking here.

THE SHOPPING CART

Reflecting Pools from Bradford Products

Bradford Products (Leland, NC) makes WaterFX Reflecting Pools for both residential and commercial applications. Designed to bring a measure of peace and tranquility to any indoor or outdoor environment, the shallow stainless steel vessels can be customized to any desired size or shape and are available with tile finishes as well as lighting systems. For details, click here.

Mariner Underwater LEDs from Lightcraft

Lightcraft Outdoor (Chatsworth, CA) offers Mariner underwater lighting fixtures. Made of heavy cast brass, the units have removable stands for lower-profile installation and come with 25 feet of underwater-rated cable and field-replaceable, low-voltage LEDs. They also come with clear lenses, project out to 25 feet and can be used down to six feet deep. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Ready for

the 2019 Season?

No marketing or promotional plan you have for 2019 (and beyond) will be complete without putting the WaterShapes Professional Network to work on your company's behalf. You produce spectacular projects; WPN is here to help you call your skills and talents to the attention of homeowners and others who are interested in making water part of their daily lives.

To make that happen, we've built a collective web presence the search engines can't overlook. So if it's a strong (or stronger) web presence you're after, check it out.

The Network is working just the way we'd hoped: Time to click aboard?

Add new comment

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

April 3, 2019 www.watershapes.com

GARDEN ENCHANTMENT

Exploring Possibilities

If his work on botanical gardens has taught him anything, says Raymond Jungles, it's that it helps to be both flexible and persistent -- and, as he relates in his second article on the subject, mindful of the fact that these places are businesses and have needs that must be met. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Building a Base

Long known for his advocacy of the power of positive thinking, Brian Van Bower explains why he's also done all he can as a watershaper to get involved, stay involved and become part of social communities that have helped him advance his professional agenda for decades. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Creative Spirits

The project may have started with a miscommunication, notes Dave Garton, but that amusing incident never stood in the way of his creating a beautiful sunken pond -- or of campaigning to ease neighbors' fears about a significant (but temporary) disruption of their bucolic lives. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Poetry in Stone

With his rugged works of shaped water and stone, Colorado-based sculptor Richard Hansen has spent a career exploring what he calls 'poetic dialogues' between nature and humanity, permanence and ephemera, distance and intimacy. But his interest in the materials he uses goes well beyond such philosophical notions: He's a hands-on artisan who particularly enjoys, he says, the unique sound that stone makes when it splits.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in May 2003, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

A Clear, Clean Public Service

The Cross Valley Water District's office in Clearview, Wash., stands as a prime example, writes Sandra Hasegawa Ingalls, of how a public facility can send messages to the community about good environmental stewardship. It's well worth a quick stop on your next Northwestern trek. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Infinite Potential

An article with photographs of beautiful pools isn't a rare commodity, writes Jim McCloskey. But in this case, reviewing the images triggered a flood of thoughts on global watershaping and how fast ideas and approaches have been moving through the past 30-odd years. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO . . .

Trend-Tracking Dept.: A rash of recent buildings have integrated waterfalls into their design packages.

[more]

Fallingwater doesn't belong here, but the rest? Truly cool!

Weird Concepts Dept.: Audi puts a pair of autos in a pool to perform a 'synchronized swimming' routine. [more]

It's catchy, but it'd work better if the cars had arms and legs.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Advancing Technology

When Mark Holden wrote about the importance of being open to new ideas and technologies back in April 2009, he didn't mince any words -- as you'll see in reviewing this quick recap of his original text. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Speck Introduces Normblock Multi Pumps

Speck Pumps (Jacksonville, FL) now offers the Normblock Multi line of pumps specifically for commercial pools, fountains and waterparks with elevated salt concentrations. Available in 7.5-, 10-, 15- and 20-horsepower models, the energy-efficient, quiet-running units have housings and impellers made of high-performance plastic for corrosion resistance. For details, click here and scroll down.

MistAmerica Offers MiniCool Systems

MistAmerica (Scottsdale, AZ) has released MiniCool, an outdoor cooling system for residential applications. Designed to replace common ceiling fans as well as inefficient line-mist systems, the cooling unit generates and disperses mist via a fan-like device placed in the center of a patio space rather than through misting lines strung around its perimeter. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Collective

Prowess

If you design and/or build pools, spas, fountains, ponds, streams, waterfalls or other forms of contained, controlled water, you have a proven ability to create projects of great beauty. But how do you spread the word about your skills and talents to those who might want you to help them make water part of their daily lives?

The WaterShapes Professional Network can help you there. We've built a web site where dozens of designers and builders of watershapes of all types participate as an Internet collective -- a grouped entity large enough and interrelated in ways that make search engines treat all participants with respect. So if it's a strong (or even just a stronger) web presence you're after, please do take a look and get involved.

The Network is working just the way we'd hoped: Time to click aboard?

Add new comment

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

March 20, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Artful Opportunities

The home sits on the edge of a lovely golf course, but it's backyard definitely needed help. Completely reimagining the space, Juliet Wood inserted a pool, a spa, a cabana, a sweeping staircase and an amazing water wall to create a fully integrated resource for outdoor family fun. [more]

WHAT IS IT?

#33: Flagstone Decking

Few decking materials are more welcome around swimming pools and spas than large flagstones. But this appeal, writes Mike Farley, comes from much more than the simple fact that the big slabs look fantastic when they're thoughtfully (and skillfully) arrayed near water. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Strangely Sublime

This odd, twisting fountain by a noted Surrealist artist was built several years after Jim McCloskey's one brief visit to Switzerland. But it's enough to incline him to add Bern to the list of places he'd like to see the next time the travel bug bites and sends him on his way back to Europe. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Graceful Cascades

Taking great pride in crafting watershapes that are as natural in appearance as possible, pond/stream specialist Steve Sandalis has developed a systematic approach that always guides him in the right directions. A case in point is the project discussed here, in which a thousand tons of stone, hundreds of feet of liner and countless plants came together to create a setting so amazingly romantic that its owner changed his mind about how to put it to use.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in August 2006, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Night Eyes

In essence, says Mike Gambino, landscape lighting is about visualizing the way a space will look when the sun goes down. He shows what that means in practical terms through a project in which he brought nighttime drama to a home and its pool, fountain and garden spaces. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Swimming's Place

A book about the history of swimming caught Jim McCloskey's eye recently, fascinating him with tales reaching from primordial seas and the dawn of civilization to more recent manifestations of what the author clearly sees as an unsurpassed form of human endeavor. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO . . .

Taking a Stand Dept.: UK synchronized swimmers do their best to perform in a pool filled with plastic debris.

[more]

It's a deft statement about the plight of our polluted oceans.

On the Lighter Side Dept.: Kentucky Fried Chicken turns to crowdfunding to create KFC-themed hot tubs. [more]

Nice publicity stunt, Colonel. Just get the temperature right!

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Speaking the Language

Back in 2009, Dave Peterson was a strong, early advocate for watershaping's involvement with a key set of standards. Click here to see what he was after -- and just how far the industry has come. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

RenoSys Offers Stainless Steel Gutter Systems

RenoSys (Indianapolis, IN) has added a stainless-steel version to its DuraTech line of gutters for commercial and institutional pools. Designed for affordable reliability, the new units combine gutter and plumbing in a trough that includes pressurized water returns and inlets, thereby eliminating buried pipes that can break in freeze/thaw conditions. For details, click here.

Intermatic Debuts ComboConnect J-Boxes

Intermatic (Spring Grove, IL) produces the ComboConnect Junction Box/Transformer. The compact, hybrid unit provides two line-voltage and five low-voltage connections for underwater and dry pool, spa and landscape-lighting applications, all in the same housing. Designed for tight spaces, the units include a 100-watt low-voltage transformer. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Building

Step by Step

The WaterShapes Professional Network is all about building a credible, unified web presence where numerous watershapers can convey uniformly formatted, readily compared information in an easily navigated consumer resource. By doing so, WPN gives consumers initial access to the marketplace in an environment that guides them comfortably and confidently through the earliest stages of a significant purchasing decision.

True, some homeowners and facility managers are lucky enough when they start looking for watershapers to have friends or colleagues who can refer them to suitable firms. But more often these consumers are on their own -- and most start their hunt by searching on the Internet, where finding individual watershapers is a hit-and-miss process. WPN takes 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?

Add new comment

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

March 6, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

A Slice of Paradise

It was a challenging site for a long pool that would overflow on all four sides. But with the right foundation and a well-engineered shell, writes Grant Smith, the project came together beautifully -- although it apparently wasn't enough to get his clients to stick around to enjoy the view! [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Fishy Affairs

There comes a time with most ponds when the owners will want to add fish to supplement the original population or replace pets lost to age or predators. It's a perilous step, notes Mike Gannon, which is why he prepares his clients for the occasion early on with words of caution. [more]

DESIGN DYNAMICS

Organizing Chaos

Every watershaping project starts with a big box of possibilities the designer digs through in selecting features that meet the needs of the site, the clients and the budget. Kurt Kraisinger will examine this early digging to start a brand-new series on how designs come together. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Island Life

Searching for an effective and natural way to improve water quality in both man-made and natural bodies of water, inventor Bruce Kania turned to the experiences of a childhood spent exploring and fishing in the waters of the upper Midwest. Inspired by the diversity and sheer wildness of the natural, floating islands that can occur there, he's developed a system that not only enhances water quality but also provides a haven for wildlife.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in April 2005, has been digitized for all readers. Click hereto see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Water Everywhere

Italy's Villa d'Este has long inspired designers -- and everyone else who comes to visit. Mark Holden has had a career-long interest in the estate and takes this opportunity to share his love of its features while encouraging more watershapers to go and see it for themselves. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Rallying to a Cause

A news story about a pair of community groups that are raising money to pay for restoration of an iconic Minneapolis fountain recently caught Jim McCloskey's eye -- and leads him to discuss a hopeful trend toward public intervention when municipalities can't seem to get the job done. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO . . .

Wet-Weather Wonders Dept.: A downpour in Northern California crafts a spontaneous watershape.

[more]

This furious display is a bit scary -- but also quite beautiful.

Maritime Silliness Dept.: New 'super yacht' comes with deluxe features -- including a vanishing-edge pool. [more]

It's a great idea for the showroom, but how will it do at sea?

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Powering the Press

Among all the things he did to build his business, wrote Brian Van Bowerin March 2004, one tactic stood out head and shoulders above the rest. Has anything has happened since then to alter the picture? [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

SelectaFlo D.E. Filter Valves from Hayward

Hayward Pool Products (Elizabeth, NJ) has released SelectaFlo Valves for use with diatomaceous-earth filters. Designed to provide up to 90-percent less head loss than multiport valves, the units feature trigger-action handles that makes it easy to select among four valve/filter functions with the company's ProGrid and DEP 500 filters. For details, click here.

Oase Launches Air Injector for Ponds

Oase (Coronoa, CA) has introduced the AquaOxy Set 240, a quiet, energy-efficient air-injector pump that safely increases oxygen levels in ponds containing up to 2,113 gallons. The lightweight unit has two air outlets, a long hose for easy placement and weighted air stones to ensure a uniform, high-volume dissipation of oxygen into the water. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

The Art of

Persuasion

The Network is working just the way we'd hoped: Time to click aboard?

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THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

February 20, 2019 www.watershapes.com

BOTANIC ENCHANTMENT

Forging a Path

Designing and installing botanical gardens may be soul-satisfying, but it's also a remarkable professional challenge. As Raymond Jungles writes in the first of three articles on the subject, these projects have multiple audiences, each of them bringing massive expectations to the table. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Hard-Won Beauty

Called back to a pool he'd bid on unsuccessfully ten years earlier, William Drakeley found that the winning contractor had fallen short in several ways. It was now up to him to persuade an extremely reluctant client to start all over again, this time with a more suitable approach. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

The Family Plan

Contacted by a reader for advice on where to go on a family vacation if one of the goals was for her to see great watershapes, Jim McCloskey rattled off a long list of U.S. cities -- and then called her back later with a suggestion he thought might add special meaning to the trip. [more]

ESSENTIAL

The Architect Connection

As watershaping becomes an independent design discipline, says architect Greg Danskin, there's increasing cause for watershapers to interact with and more fully understand what architects do and how they do it. Here, he offers his suggestions toward building that familiarity, starting by defining the nature of his profession and exploring the common ground upon which watershapers and architects operate.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in March 2008, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Seeing the Light

All too often, homeowners unaware of the benefits of quality landscape lighting will sidestep it to cut costs as a project nears its conclusion. That's a tendency Mike Gambino combats by continuously educating his clients about the illuminated joys they'll find outside after dark. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Decisions, Decisions

The original plan to update his family's aging pool and spa has given way to another project for now, reports Jim McCloskey. But even the sidelined process gave him a deeper understanding of what daunts homeowners as they pass through what he now calls 'remodel creep.' [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO . . .

Preaching to the Saved Dept.: Physical therapists make the case for the curative power of being in water.

[more]

Their article self-promotes, but it hits all the high points.

Sinuous Shapes Dept.: Architect Roman Vlasov offers a fresh take on weaving a pool into its environment. [more]

It's been a while since anything struck me as so original.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Planting Pains

Back in 2009, Bruce Zaretsky wrote about the nature of landscape design and a trend that had him keenly concerned about the future. Do you think anything has happened over the past decade to alter his views? [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Guppy Submerged LED Fixtures from Lightcraft

Lightcraft Outdoor (Chatsworth, CA) makes the model H20-302B underwater LED lighting fixture. Known as the Guppy, the compact fixture -- just an inch-and-three-quarters tall -- is made with heavy cast brass and has a natural-bronze finish. It comes with a pebble tray, includes a 25-foot cable and projects 15 feet with a 180-degree beam angle. For details, click here.

S.R. Smith Introduces In-Pool Lounges

S.R. Smith (Canby, OR) manufactures the Destination Lounger for use in water depths of up to 12 inches. Lightweight yet strong, the lounge is meant for residential or commercial use and has a design that allows for easy filling of the base section with water and for easy emptying if it needs to be moved within the pool or removed for storage. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Getting in

the Game

These days, the Internet is the information resource of choice for those on the hunt for a huge array of goods and services. But it's tough for any individual business to capture eyes amid the bewildering quantity of options facing consumers as they surf the web and try to find ways to make something like water, for example, part of their home or working lives.

That's why we started the WaterShapes Professional Network -- a place consumers are using to get basic information about pool. pond and fountain designers and builders before they start making direct phone calls to arrange for site visits and bids. It's a new way of making initial contacts and getting in the game.

The Network is working just the way we'd hoped: Time to click aboard?

Add new comment

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

February 6, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Digging Deep

The project started with all the stress of figuring out how to satisfy regulators angered by the homeowner's previous attempts to beautify a protected streambed. Colleen Holmes saved the day by jumping through countless hoops -- then left her client with a lovely, hard-won haven. [more]

EASTERN INSIGHT

Everyday Serenity

This amazing structure sits just off the route toward a more prominent tourist attraction, notes Victoria Lautman in the last of her series of articles on India's stepwells. But as is true of so many of these marvels, Peena Mann ka Kund is more than worth a detour off a well-beaten path. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Easing Transitions

It's always fun working with clients who know what they want but don't think they can have it, writes Shane LeBlanc. And that's particularly true when they're great collaborators who've already taken steps to set the tone and prepare the space for a crowning aquatic touch. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Senses of Direction

Martha and Randy Beard have achieved watershaping success by executing sophisticated design programs for a variety of high-end architects and landscape architects in southern California. Here's another in their series of articles about these collaborations -- in this case a look at their work with architect David Tardiff, a cutting-edge designer of homes and spaces for affluent customers who demand beauty and excitement in their surroundings.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in February 2004, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Refreshing the Supply

In 2008, the Orange County Water District unveiled its Groundwater Replenishment System, a treatment and reuse facility dedicated to resupplying a California county's beleaguered groundwater reserves. Eric Herman toured the completed facility -- and you can, too! [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Unusual Blowback

A recent blog about his WaterShapes-related New Year's Resolution drew an unusual quantity of reader comments, reports Jim McCloskey. Some volunteered to help; others just hated the idea. But there was also a third sort of response -- a set of observations that made his day. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO . . .

Party Animals Dept.: Raccoons know a good thing when they see it, taking advantage of cool, clear water.

[more]

I'm convinced this happens in my pool every other night!

Partying Fool Dept.: Man fined $575 for stripping down and 'baptizing' himself in a famed Roman basin. [more]

I have to ask: What did Trevi Fountain do to deserve this?

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Finding Ways

In 2004, Brian Van Bower opened up in his Aqua Culture column with observations about the direction of the watershaping industry. Are his observations as relevant now as they were back then? [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

CMP Debuts Powerclean Salt Chlorinator

CMP (Newnan, GA) has introduced Powerclean Salt Ultra, a chlorinator that uses common salt to produce pure chlorine for use in sanitizing pool water. Designed for durability, affordability and serviceability, the compact units feature clear housings that make it easy to see when it's time to clean the cells, which remove easily for cleansing without acid. For details, click here.

Fountain People Offers New Scuppers

Fountain People (San Marcos, TX) has introduced Mediterranean-style scuppers for use on pools and other waterfeatures. Based on forms found in ancient fountains, the units feature a dark-bronze finish with green highlights that accent the decorative surface etching. They also have 1.5-inch plumbing connections and project out more than five inches. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Are You Ready

for the Spring?

The 2019 season is about to get into full swing -- definitely an opportune time to make certain that strong messages about what you do are found where homeowners and commercial clients will see them.

One great way to spread the word is through the WaterShapes Professional Network, where increasing numbers of web searchers find information and support that helps them make decisions about who to work with in adding water --and everything that can come with it -- to their home and/or business environments.

The Network is working just the way we'd hoped: Time to click aboard?

Add new comment

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

January 23, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

A Healing Art

Healing gardens are now playing important roles for healthcare facilities of all descriptions, note J. Wickham Zimmerman and Chris Roy. Here's a look at a particularly prominent example of the genre -- complete with a tricky site, an elaborate sculpture and 15 watershapes. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Evocative Mirror

Called in to rescue a troubled project, Jeromey Nauglefigured out what the client really wanted in no time at all -- then had to cope with starts, stops and delays while delivering all of the features the homeowner craved to complete an impressively reflective backyard. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

An All-Comers Fountain

The Old Town District of Portland, Ore., boasts a 19th-century fountain with an odd functional twist -- and enough charm that it stopped Jim McCloskey in his tracks. It's a classic in an interesting part of town, so do plan on spending time in its vicinity on your next visit. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Soothing Sounds

The sound of water moving through the landscape adds something special to any backyard, offering a powerful aesthetic component to even the simplest of designs. These auditory enhancements evoke strong images, emotions and associations even from casual or occasional observers, notes landscape designer and watershaper Rick Anderson, who suggests that the 'aural factor' should be considered from the very beginning of the design phase.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in June 1999, has been digitized for all readers. Click hereto see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Retaining Wall ABCs

Before retaining walls can be aesthetic triumphs, they require a foundation of technical excellence. The key to complete, balanced, enduring success, writes Bruce Zaretsky, is a systematic approach that encompasses a wide range of fundamental site-specific factors. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

A Beautiful Partnership

A televised news story about an innovative alliance that reopened a school pool in East Boston has been much on Jim McCloskey's mind since he first watched it last fall. He shares it now because it offers a creative, collaborative message of hope as the New Year begins. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO . . .

Postal Display Dept.: New York City's historic Bethesda Fountain appears on a new expedited-mail stamp.

[more]

At $25.50, it's the most expensive peel-and-stick ever.

Uncharitable Thoughts Dept.: City of Rome threatens to keep coins thrown into Trevi Fountain for itself. [more]

It was a bad idea -- and a key figure eventually agreed.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

In Service of Trees

Back in 2009, Bruce Zaretsky wrote with uncommon urgency about the way trees are often treated on job sites and used his column to advise watershape and landscape professionals to mend their ways. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Hayward Introduces Pleated-Element D.E Filters

Hayward Pool Products (Elizabeth, NJ) has launched the DEP 500 series of pleated-element diatomaceous-earth filters. Designed to trap more dirt with less maintenance, the units combine cartridge technology with the superior water clarity and low head loss of D.E. filtration using elements that can be backwashed or quickly removed and rinsed. For details, click here.

Skimmer Lids Unveils the Hide System for Pool Decks

Skimmer Lids (Yatala, Queensland, Australia) has introduced the Hide skimmer lid for concrete swimming pools. Made of 316 stainless steel and offering a range of depths to accommodate various filler materials, the unit comes with a safety key, height adjusters and an edge-protection system that keeps surrounding material from chipping or breaking. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

The Hunt for

Excellence

When homeowners or facility managers start looking for watershapers to help them pursue their ambitions and dreams, where do they start? Some are fortunate enough to have business contacts or friends who can refer them to worthy professionals. But these days, many start their searching on the Internet -- a great but indiscriminate resource filled with blind alleys, dead ends and sometimes unreliable information.

That's where the WaterShapes Professional Network comes in: By offering a credible, unified web presence in which numerous watershapers convey uniformly formatted, comparable information in an easily navigated template, WPN gives consumers initial access to the marketplace in an easygoing environment that guides them through the earliest stages of a significant purchase decision.

The Network is working just the way we'd hoped: Time to click aboard?

Add new comment

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

January 9, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Up from the Ruins

After leaving us with a cliffhanger last month, Scott Christiefollows up here with information on the clients' surprise request and on the process of bringing the backyard into final form with -- in addition to the original pool and spa -- a new pond system and, oh yes, a crumbling ruin. [more]

WHAT IS IT?

#32: Umbrellas

If you want to add a charming touch to a project, writes Mike Farley in introducing this brief video, you need look no further than a classic shade provider -- easy to place, easy on the budget and, perhaps best of all, a timeless mood-setter and cue to complete outdoor relaxation. [more]

EASTERN INSIGHT

Hail the Queen

India's ancient stepwells were about much more than providing their thirsty communities with water. As Victoria Lautman discusses in the second of three articles on these structures, facilities including Rani ki Vav also served both men and women as multi-purpose gathering spots. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Spheres of Influence

During the past decade or so, fountains that feature rotating granite balls have become familiar in myriad settings, from theme parks to upscale backyards. The trick of floating weighty rock spheres on thin sheets of water in rounded sockets is actually a simple one, says fountain expert Anne Gunn, but it's nonetheless an effect that is utterly fascinating to children and adults who enjoy moving hugely heavy objects with the slightest of touches.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in January 2006, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

The New American Garden

The gardens of James van Sweden have influenced an entire generation of landscape architects and designers. Few are more influential than the Great Basin at the Chicago Botanic Garden: It's well worth a lingering visit the next time you find yourself in the Windy City. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Hello, 2019!

In his first blog of this brand-new year, Jim McCloskey is announcing his intention to devote more and more space to a certain type of editorial and product content in upcoming editions of this newsletter. While on the subject, he also has an important, related favor to ask of all of you. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO . . .

Dazzling Display Dept.: These portraits of exotic fish treat us to a seldom-seen world of amazing beauty.

[more]

For all that, these guys relentlessly fight among themselves.

Higher Art Dept.: Photographer Milan Radisics captures images of water as you've probably never seen it. [more]

There's exceptional beauty even on our troubled planet.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Hard Choices

Early in 2004, Stephanie Rose wrote passionately in her column about the effective use of rocks in landscapes and gardens. Do you think you know why she assigned so much importance to these materials? [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Fire & Water Bowls from Grand Effects

Grand Effects (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) offers 360° Fire & Water Bowls for outdoor living spaces. The products combine fire and water effects and come in a variety of sizes, shapes and finishes with certified burner assemblies for natural gas or propane operation. They generate 60,000 to 80,000 Btus per hour with 30 to 50 gpm water flows. For details, click here.

Daldorado Launches Pool-Grate Support System

Daldorado (Naples, FL) has introduced the DalLUX stone and tile grate-support system for use on straight, parallel pools. The system features 12-inch-wide supports and mitered corners to which cut-to-size stone or tile pieces are attached using a supplied adhesive and spacer lugs. The resulting grates have load capacities in excess of 5,000 pounds. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Expanding

Influence

The rationale for banding together in a web network is simple: By creating a mass of companies -- every single one of them with its own Internet presence and all of them effectively aligned to one another by virtue of reciprocal links with the hosting site -- an entity such as the WaterShapes Professional Network makes every participant seem larger and inherently more interesting to search engines. This leads to more exposure, more leads, more clicks, more prospective clients.

To see what this kind of community looks like, have a look by clicking below.

The Network is working just the way we'd hoped: Time to click aboard?

Add new comment

CRYSTAL FOUNTAINS VIDEO SHOWCASE

Click 'play' to watch the current showcase video

New Products at Watershapes.com

Hayward Offers VGB Compliant Outlets

Construction Systems & Materials
Product information from Hayward Pool Products on its VGB-compliant suction outlets for residential and commercial pools.

Fountain Systems & Equipment
Product information from Blue Thumb on its gray/white stone fountain kits, featuring three-column assemblies at three heights.

Landscape/Hardscape Materials & Equipment
Product information from Deckorators on Voyage wood-simulating composite decking with a slip-resisting texture.

Professional Watershaping
Information from Genesis University on its course selections and schedules for the 2019-2020 program year

Outdoor Living Systems & Accessories
Product information from Trex Pergola on its shade structures with retractable fabric canopy systems for customized use.

Construction Systems & Materials
Product information from Ramuc Pool & Deck Paint on its improved A2 synthetic-rubber coating for a range of watershapes.

Lessons in Trust

WaterShapes World (blog)
Reflecting on a difficult decision from a recent construction project at his home, Jim McCloskey has regrets about the way things turned out -- and learned a valuable lesson about trust along the way.

CRYSTAL FOUNTAINS VIDEO SHOWCASE

New Products at Watershapes.com

Hayward Offers VGB Compliant Outlets

White/Gray Fountains from Blue Thumb

Deckorators’ Voyage Composite Decking

Genesis Releases 2019-20 Course Catalog

Trex Offers Pergola/Shade Structure

Ramuc Improves Its A2 Rubber Coating

Lessons in Trust