2014/6.1, June 11 — Waterfall Tuning, Concrete Artistry, Un-Common Tadpoles and more

June 11, 2014 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Concrete Expressions

Concrete is the primary building material used by most watershapers, but it seems to award-winning concrete artist/architectural designer Fu-Tung Cheng that designers and installers alike should be encouraged to exploit more of the material’s flexibility and power when developing aesthetic elements in and around water. Here, he offers his perspective on creating interior and exterior waterfeatures with this amazing potential in mind.

This article, originally published in March 2011, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

PONDCRAFT 101

It’s a Wrap!

Closing out his monumental, 21-part video series on the design and construction of a backyard pond and waterfall, Eric Triplett reveals a secret about the project — one that that shows his dedication to the cause of pond education and his respect for a voracious family pet. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Little Amphibians

The children’s play area in Boston Common was reshaped a few years back to serve the needs of a diverse population while respecting its historic setting. Lynn Wolff and John Copley know that the resulting Tadpole Playground is well worth a visit the next time you come to town. [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Soothing Sounds

Evoking strong images, emotions and associations, the sound water makes in moving through a landscape adds a powerful aesthetic component to even the simplest of designs. That’s why Rick Anderson recommends paying attention to the ‘aural factor’ — right from the start. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Who Made This Stuff?

Sometimes, notes Lew Akins, clients will have done their homework and settled on the brands of equipment they think they want to use on their watershapes. That’s great, he says, but it can catch you up in some interesting negotiations as you define what’s really needed. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Handoffs

The current edition of WaterShapes EXTRA brings one long video series to a close while it also sees the launches of two new article sequences. But what Jim McCloskey really wants to discuss is a curious trend in collegiate football’s locker-room decor. [more]

To Isolate Hirsute Flotsam . . .
U.K. Public Pool Pioneers Special
Lane for Men with Hairy Backs

[more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Solid Foundations

Back in 1999, Brian Van Bower shared his personal and professional insights related to an Asian perspective on ways of influencing people and gaining results. To see his ‘key’ to success, click here.

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

We still have a few complete sets of WaterShapes magazine’s back issues available for sale — now at a reduced price! Click here for information on obtaining a complete library of the publication that changed the face of the watershaping business forever — and for better!

THE AQUATIC QUIZ

With the 2014 Hurricane Season About
to Begin, What’s a Poolowner to Do?

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

1. What measure does Bradenton.com — Web site of the Bradenton Herald newspaper in Manatee County, Fla. — say poolowners should take to deal with hurricanes?

a. Drain the pool before the storm hits
b. Drain the pool immediately after the storm passes
c. Super-chlorinate the pool before the storm hits
d. Don’t do anything; the pool will be fine.

2. NaplesNews.com — Web site of the Naples [Florida] Daily News — also offers advice about approaching hurricanes to residents with backyard pools. The site recommends that people living in low-lying areas should:

a. Turn off the power to the pool pump b. Unhook the pump’s plumbing hoses
c. Lift the pump to a higher position d. All of the above.

3. Sun-Sentinel.com — Web site of Fort Lauderdale’s Sun-Sentinel newspaper — offers this suggestion: If you cannot store loose objects such as plastic or PVC chairs, tables, pool equipment and toys inside a building and your pool is concrete, throw them in the pool to help shield them from the winds.

a. True b. False

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

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