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THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS
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| May 20, 2015 www.watershapes.com |
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LESSONS LEARNED
All Cracked Up
Faux stones made with concrete can be a great alternative to real stone, notes Scott Cohen. But you need to be aware of a key detail in their manufacturing process — a piece of information that will enable you to avoid costly consequences on the job site. [more] |
 CONCRETE PERCEPTIONS
It seems as though it’s been around forever, but as Lily Samuels and Bill Drakeley report here, pneumatically applied concrete has been with us for little more than 100 years. Kicking off a three-part series on shotcrete, they start with a look at the men behind the technology. [more]
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TRAVELOGUE
Rising Aspiration
Whenever he gets to Cleveland, Jim McCloskey makes a point of visiting The Fountain of Eternal Life: It’s a poignant war memorial, but it’s also a call for a better world — and one of the most compelling statements about human aspiration he’s ever seen. [more]
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If watershapes and sculptures are both to be included in a garden, the designer faces the challenge of making each component look as though it truly belongs in the setting. Here, Chicago-based landscape artist Rosalind Reed explores what is involved in pulling off this balancing act for a small urban space. The result is a careful interweaving of artistic and aquatic forms that blend serenely in the heart of a bustling city.
This article, originally published in WaterShapes in May 2001, 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
Covering Levels
When it comes to practical design/construction solutions, says Paolo Benedetti, few are as significant as keeping surface waves from flooding automatic pool cover vaults. Here, he defines a simple approach that protects the cover and its mechanisms while saving water, too. [more]
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WATERSHAPES WORLD
Printed Legacy
Back issues of WaterShapes have been flying off his office shelves in the past few weeks, writes Jim McCloskey, as part of a long-overdue space-clearing sale. It’s made him think fondly of the old days — and leads him to remind you to stock up while there’s still time! [more]
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WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .
Opportunity Knocks Dept.: Police pursue a man seen rinsing his car in a plaza’s dry-deck fountain. [more]
Well, it does look a bit like a drive-through service.
Party Hearty Dept.: A walk down a manufactured Memory Lane courtesy of pool-centric hotel postcards. [more]
Even staged glamour is better than none at all!
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WATERSHAPES CLASSIC
Size Revisited
Back in May 2005, Stephanie Rose discussed a specific type of project that she saw as a true test of a designer’s skill. It’s all about managing fine details, she wrote — and captivating clients with the results. [more]
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Neptune Benson Offers ProStrainer Products
Neptune Benson (Coventry, RI) has acquired the ProStrainer line from ProFlo. These lightweight, low-profile, small-footprint, dual-basket strainers operate with a horizontal laminar flow that eliminates clogging, reduces energy use and limits wear and tear on the pump. Their quick-release lids also ease access to their large-capacity baskets. For details, click here.
Avalon Fountains Releases Product Catalog
Avalon Fountains (Malibu, CA) has published a digital catalog covering its line of nature-inspired fountains and waterfeatures for both residential and commercial settings. The handcrafted, water-emitting trees range in height from 4 to 50 feet, and each is a made-to-order artwork in copper, bronze and glass. Glass-flowered plants are also highlighted. For details, click here.
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THE AQUATIC QUIZ
Zoo Project: People Will Swim with
Polar Bears and Live to Tell the Tale
Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below.
1. The zoo in one U.S. city is planning a new water facility that will enable humans and polar bears to swim side by side. According to an article on the proposed project, “At times, bears and people will be wet and in close proximity, divided by a glass wall.” Which city is it?
| a. Denver |
b. Chicago |
c. Miami |
d. Houston |
2. Seattleite Wayne Kinslow recently achieved an impressive feat by swimming every day in Elliott Bay off the city’s Alki neighborhood, the westernmost part of West Seattle. How many consecutive days, according to westseattleblog.com, did Kinslow swim in the chilly Pacific Northwest waters?
| a. 365 |
b. 500 |
c. 750 |
d. 1,000 |
3. A major Canadian city recently banned swimmers at city pools from swimming with their feet bound together =- a severe blow to one aspiring professional mermaid who had been training that way for more than a year. In response, 24-year-old Krista Visinski launched a petition drive to overturn the ban. What Canadian city is now mermaid-unfriendly?
| a. Montreal |
b. Toronto |
c. Edmonton |
d. Vancouver |
To find out how many you got right, click here.“
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