Overview | Watershapes

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

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PHOTO OF CHAND BAORI COURTESY VICTORIA LAUTMAN, LOS ANGELES
PHOTO COURTESY JULIET WOOD DESIGN, ATLANTA, GA.
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From Rice Cooker to Waterfeature

The warmth and solid heft of aged, cast brass are the hallmarks of this antique rice cooker, says Dave Garton. It's a treasure acquired in India several years ago that now makes a statement to visitors approaching a modern Colorado home's front door.

The Eternal Joy of Water

In this delightful and insightful essay, Anthony Archer Wills takes us on a far-flung journey into bathing traditions and the use of water in fine art. A pursuit, he explains, that is both exciting and worthwhile because to create with water is to understand its profound influence on our forms of creative expression, emotion and even spirituality.

Belle' Lumiere

Lighting some of the most historic fountains on the planet is no small responsibility, reports David L’Heureux and George Ayer of fountain designer and manufacturer Crystal Fountains. Equipped with both the necessary experience and technology, the company was tapped to bring illumination to the legendary fountains of Versailles – and the results are beautifully illuminating.

Detail A802: Vanishing Edge Perspectives

Movement is one of the foundational principles of design. That doesn't mean necessarily moving through space in the literal sense, but the way design can pull your attention and your eyes to certain elements. Vanishing edges, as Dave Peterson explains, are a compelling source of movement -- drawing our eyes across a reflective surface to another space beyond.

Art of the Angle

This beautiful, ultra-contemporary southern California project featured a number of shapely features designed to harmonize with the home’s architecture. For Kevin Cobabe, it was an opportunity to apply his skills as a design-facing builder who can handle complicated equipment sets as well as the fine artistic touches.

The Grass Menagerie

Despite water usage concerns, grass remains a mainstay in both commercial and residential landscapes. Working with grass, explains Mike Logsdon, usually requires some level of moderation and a knack for knowing how to ply the multitudinous types of grasses for the greatest effect, based on client expectations and anticipated grassy needs.

Detail: A825

Tectonics is defined as the science or art of assembling, shaping, or ornamenting materials in construction; the constructive arts in general. David Peterson often uses the term tectonics while discussing the numerous finish details he and his team have created over the years. Detail A825 is one tectonic solution for a stainless steel vanishing edge.

Collecting & Using Survey Data

No matter how sophisticated your design software, it’s not worth much without accurate site data, explains Ryan Oakes. And like design, the process of information gathering on site has been dramatically enhanced by modern technology. Understanding how data and design go hand-in-hand is integral to successful design.

A Checkerboard Beauty

Creating works of watershaping art requires close attention to countless details and complete control over the installation process, says design and builder Joan Roca. To make his point, he recently profiled a spectacular project on Wolfpack Webinar Wednesdays.

Concrete Contemporary

Concrete is amazing material. Its presence in the modern architectural landscape is so widespread and diverse, it can be easy to miss the masterful way it’s been used both as a structural and aesthetic element. Here’s an example of both, a modern classic Eric Herman discovered near his home in the California desert.

The Courage to Create Art

Mike Farley notes the following about the book Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayles and Ted Orland: 'This slim, 122-page volume…is so provocative and insightful that I think I could fill a year’s worth of columns with my observations of how what they say ties into what we do as watershapers.'

New Products at Watershapes.com

Pentair Offers BioShield UV

Pool/Spa Systems & Equipment
Product information from Pentair about its BioShield UV system.

Pool/Spa Systems & Equipment
Description of Thursday Pools' shallow lounging area.

Fontana Forni Makes Countertop Pizza Ovens

Outdoor Living Systems & Accessories
Information about Fontana Forni's countertop pizza ovens.

Fountain Systems & Equipment
Product information from Hayward about its ColorLogic Bubbler.

Landscape Glass from American Specialty Glass

Landscape/Hardscape Materials & Equipment
A look at American Specialty Glass' colorful landscape glass.

Outdoor Living Systems & Accessories
Information about Grand Effects' Fire Candeleres

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