Must-See Watershapes
– as media outlets would have you believe
Few structures in American history embody the scale of ambition, engineering prowess, and transformative impact as Hoover Dam. Rising from Black Canyon on the Colorado River, southeast of Las Vegas, its massive concrete arc, once the tallest and heaviest dam in the world, stands as both a monumental physical achievement and a symbol of the nation's ability to turn bold ideas into lasting progress.
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Urban parks are increasingly being asked to do more than provide green space. They’re expected to restore ecology, reflect local culture, invite participation, and serve as social condensers for entire communities. Gatton Park on the Town Branch in Lexington, KY, is a strong example of how water—when thoughtfully designed and carefully engineered—can do all of that at once.
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A recent overseas trip took Jim McCloskey to a place he’s wanted to see for more than 20 years – basically ever since he worked on a WaterShapes article by Douglas Roth more than two decades ago on the wonders of the Japanese garden known as Katsura Rikyu.
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La Spezia, Italy, is a place rich in history, architectural beauty, religious tradition and maritime heritage. One of its latest modern attractions is the Palio del Golfo Artwork—a work that pays homage to the rich local culture and traditions, while also pointing toward the future.
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St. Lucia’s Jade Mountain is one of the world’s most unusual and luxurious resorts, a renowned masterwork in the organic architecture tradition opened since 2006. One of its unique finishing touches involved creating sculptural glass-tile spires atop the building, an artistic task David Knox enthusiastically embraced in the spirit of the place, and the man who created this entirely unique resort.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI-driven displays are drawing thousands of visitors each week to venues with show fountains, reports J. Wickham “Wick” Zimmerman of Outside The Lines, Inc. OTL is a waterfeature design/build and maintenance firm that has installed its own patented AI technology into two high-profile fountains that are capable of responding to and learning from fountain spectators.
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In September 2024, Watershape University organized a tour of Machu Picchu, the famous ruins nestled high in the Peruvian Andes. It was a dynamic journey of personal discovery with numerous fascinating revelations along the way, including the many ways the Incas controlled and utilized water. Here’s a look at one of the tour’s main highlights – a unique and mysterious place known as Tipón.
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Traveling to the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, is a journey into a world of stunning Moorish architecture, lush gardens, complex history, and water. The sprawling complex is rich with details that evoke the property’s storied past, a place that rewards curiosity and provides inspiration for modern architects, watershapers, artists, and dreamers the world over.
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Riding the Tides (25 years of WaterShapes)