Aquatic Culture | Watershapes

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Photo courtesy Questar Pools & Spas, Escondido, Calif.
Photo courtesy H2Oarts, Santa Paula, Calif.
Photo courtesy Hess Landscape Architects, Lansdale, Pa.
Photo courtesy Design Ecology, Austin, Texas
Photo courtesy Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pa.
Photo courtesy Huntington Library, San Marino, Calif.
Photo courtesy Rock Solid Tile, Calabasas, Calif.
Photo courtesy Hughes Water Gardens, Wilsonville, Ore.

Fluid Melodies: An Interview with Steve Mann

For the past 20 years, Toronto-based artist, scientist, inventor, professor and musician Steve Mann has been inventing, creating, building and playing what he calls ‘hydraulophones.’ Part fountain, part interactive waterfeature, part musical instrument and in all ways unusual, these systems enable adults, children and anyone who cares to give one a try the ability to manipulate the flow of water to create musical notes, harmonies and melodies.

Elevated Engineering

Rooftop swimming pools and spas offer breathtaking views, writes Rob Holmer, but they also tend to come with an array of unique challenges. Here, he discusses how knowing the forces at work on elevated concrete shells will help when it comes to getting things just right.

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.

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.

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.

A Sloshing Mystery

More than 25 years ago -- back before he became a professional watershaper -- Jim Wilder encountered a fountain behavior he couldn't explain. Since then, he's figured it out and, in this article, shares his observations on how to work with this fascinating water effect.

#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.

Mining Their Dreams

Pond and stream specialist Steve Sandalis has a penchant for creating dramatic watershape settings for residential clients who want something well beyond the ordinary. His firm’s expertise is on full display in this challenging project, which features a steep cascading waterfall, a stream and a pond suitable both for fish and for swimming – all executed in a confined space at the bottom of a narrow canyon.

All About the Water

Specialists in land planning for large-scale developments, the Hilton Head Island, S.C.-based landscape architecture firm of Wood+Partners, Inc., believes in building communities that harmonize with nature. In late 2003, say the authors, the company was asked to generate a master plan for Hampton Lake, a planned community that follows the company philosophy to the letter, linking luxury living to responsible environmental stewardship.

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.

A Prairie Experience

Any watershaper faces an embarrassment of riches in visiting Chicago, but Jim McCloskey argues that this one among the city's many aquatic attractions should be near the top of any visitor's list.

A Daily Dose

A daily diary for artistic thinking. Book Notes includes reviews of a wide variety of publications hand-selected by a professional watershaper/landscape designer who sees their relevance in his life and work.

CRYSTAL FOUNTAINS VIDEO SHOWCASE

Click 'play' to watch the current showcase video

New Products at Watershapes.com

Upgraded Spa Air Blowers from Hayward

Pool/Spa Systems & Equipment
Product information from Hayward Pool Products on its improved air blowers for spa applications.

Stainless Steel Grates from Construction Specialties

Construction Systems & Materials
Product information from Construction Specialties on GridLine+ trench grates for landscape and fountain applications

Fountain People Updates Fountain-in-a-Can

Fountain Systems & Equipment
Product information from Fountain People on an improved version of its Fountain-in-a-Can system.

Other Watershape Systems & Equipment
Product information from RicoRock on its Vertical Walls, a waterfall/spillway system for contemporary-style pool and landscape settings.

Landscape/Hardscape Materials & Equipment
Product information from TigerDeck on its Tigerwood tropical hardwood decking and it's hidden-fastener system

ControlOMatic Offers PoolWarden Controller

Pool/Spa Systems & Equipment
Product information from ControlOMatic on the PoolWarden Controller for ph, ORP and temperature in swimming pools.

Infinite Potential

WaterShapes World (blog)
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.