ARTICLES Archives - Page 232 of 315

Line of ‘Site’

For years now, we've all heard that consideration of a site and its surrounding environment is one of the things that separates the average from the truly great projects. For my part, as I've grown as a watershape designer, I've found this simple concept carrying more and more weight in my work. With that site-driven value system somewhere in mind, I recently came across two books that provide some of the most compelling examples of this approach I've ever seen. It all started when I read a newspaper article about architect Antoine Predock, the 2006 recipient of the

Line of ‘Site’

For years now, we've all heard that consideration of a site and its surrounding environment is one of the things that separates the average from the truly great projects. For my part, as I've grown as a watershape designer, I've found this simple concept carrying more and more weight in my work. With that site-driven value system somewhere in mind, I recently came across two books that provide some of the most compelling examples of this approach I've ever seen. It all started when I read a newspaper article about architect Antoine Predock, the 2006 recipient of the

Design Time

When I sit down with clients for our first face-to-face meeting, we discuss a range of issues that will guide me when I return to my studio and get down to designing a watershape and surrounding areas for them. We'll talk about colors, materials, the location of the pool, their preferences in art, the way they entertain and, perhaps most important of all, how they plan to use their backyard and swimming pool. Let's focus on that last point: When we talk about how a pool is going to be used, what I really want to know is how it will be used on a daily or weekly basis (for swimming, exercise, play or simply as a visual), not how it's going to be used once or twice each year when they throw a big pool party. My thought is that these clients will

Design Time

When I sit down with clients for our first face-to-face meeting, we discuss a range of issues that will guide me when I return to my studio and get down to designing a watershape and surrounding areas for them. We'll talk about colors, materials, the location of the pool, their preferences in art, the way they entertain and, perhaps most important of all, how they plan to use their backyard and swimming pool. Let's focus on that last point: When we talk about how a pool is going to be used, what I really want to know is how it will be used on a daily or weekly basis (for swimming, exercise, play or simply as a visual), not how it's going to be used once or twice each year when they throw a big pool party. My thought is that these clients will

Citrus Sense

For years, I refused to eat tangerines and oranges because I hated the seeds. It was too much work to peel off the rind and then sift through the sections and pull out the seeds before finally getting to the juicy, delicious part of the fruit. I opted instead to get my Vitamin C from other sources. One winter several years ago, my attitude changed after I was handed a Satsuma tangerine. Surprised at how easy it was to peel and even more stunned by the absence of seeds, I savored the fruit's sweetness and enjoyed a more natural form of vitamin intake. In fact, I found myself devouring

Citrus Sense

For years, I refused to eat tangerines and oranges because I hated the seeds. It was too much work to peel off the rind and then sift through the sections and pull out the seeds before finally getting to the juicy, delicious part of the fruit. I opted instead to get my Vitamin C from other sources. One winter several years ago, my attitude changed after I was handed a Satsuma tangerine. Surprised at how easy it was to peel and even more stunned by the absence of seeds, I savored the fruit's sweetness and enjoyed a more natural form of vitamin intake. In fact, I found myself devouring

Making the List

When I teach seminars on watershape design, I always emphasize the importance of having a list of questions to ask prospective clients during initial conversations. It's a point that always seems to ignite discussion - and it usually ends up with someone in the audience asking me to provide such a document for general use. I always refuse to do so, not because I consider my approach a trade secret, but rather because everyone's business and approach to clients is a little different and the questions I ask might not be exactly the questions everyone else would (or should) ask. The issue has come up frequently enough through the years, however, that I've finally assembled

Making the List

When I teach seminars on watershape design, I always emphasize the importance of having a list of questions to ask prospective clients during initial conversations. It's a point that always seems to ignite discussion - and it usually ends up with someone in the audience asking me to provide such a document for general use. I always refuse to do so, not because I consider my approach a trade secret, but rather because everyone's business and approach to clients is a little different and the questions I ask might not be exactly the questions everyone else would (or should) ask. The issue has come up frequently enough through the years, however, that I've finally assembled

A Fresh Start

Through all my years of working on WaterShapes, one of the most persistent frustrations I've encountered has had to do with the ongoing lack of access would-be watershapers have to college-level education on the subject. And it's a frustration shared by landscape architects, many of whom have told me how rankled they are by

A Fresh Start

Through all my years of working on WaterShapes, one of the most persistent frustrations I've encountered has had to do with the ongoing lack of access would-be watershapers have to college-level education on the subject. And it's a frustration shared by landscape architects, many of whom have told me how rankled they are by