ARTICLES Archives - Page 298 of 314

Studying the works of past masters, says designer Bobbie Schwartz, has always helped her expand her own repertoire of creative garden, landscaping and watershaping approaches. Here, in the second of three articles examining classic stonework in European and North American gardens, she again explores this rich resource for ideas about walls, pathways and stairways – features that can be used to work magic in a variety of settings.

Refinements in Stone

It's the little things that often make the biggest difference in creating beautiful spaces within gardens or near watershapes. A well-articulated retaining wall here, a clever treatment of a stone footpath there or the perfect placement of a stone stairway can, at various points, lend variety, balance and even a sense of antiquity to the work. In the first installment of this series of articles on classic uses of stone in gardens and watershapes, we began with an overview of stones set among plantings and used as simple structures in some of the world's most beautiful

A Glittering Treasure

Looking for inspiration can be like mining for gold. You sift and pan through mountains of muck before unearthing a nugget of real value. And when you do come upon a resource that teaches and inspires you to reach for greater heights of creativity in your designs, the payback is a hundred-fold. Knowing where to look helps, and that's what this new column is all about. The first book I'll discuss is an unexpected treasure of incalculable value. Before I read The Architecture of John Lautner (text by Alan Hess, photographs by Alan Weintraub, published by Rizzoli, New York), I couldn't

Thermal Potential

Some details seem simpler than they really are. A case in point is the one I'll describe this time - a detail I call a thermal ledge. In one sense, it's really just a large a big bench located a few inches below the water's surface, but in terms of what it is structurally and what it does to increase enjoyment of a pool, it's something truly special. The ledge pictured here is visually interesting in the way its stone surface picks up the rockwork used throughout the deck and the barbecue area and within the pool itself. As important, it provides the homeowners and their guests

Edible Landscapes

More and more of my clients are interested in including edible plants in their gardens. They're into cooking, great food, fine wine and entertaining, and they appreciate the special flavors that come when they grow and harvest their own edibles. It's incredibly satisfying to walk out into one's own garden and pick fruits or vegetables or herbs. Not only do these edibles taste better than store-bought produce, but any gardener can be reasonably sure that the foods they grow are free of pesticides and other undesirable contaminants. No matter what

In Search of Community

Through the past 50 years, the watershaping industry has evolved from a small, elite group of contractors serving the needs of a small, elite group of consumers to become a vast industry whose services are in demand across a wide range of socio-economic levels. In fact, it's probably fair to say that in these most recent years of prosperity, watershapes are being sold to more people across broader economic bandwidths than ever before. Yet for all this demand and the innovation that's been happening, I don't see unity. Instead, I see a massive, diverse "industry" (definitely in quotation marks) with scores of niche organizations, geographic enclaves and specific interests, each moving forward without the

Powerful Influences

There's a new wrinkle in this issue of WaterShapes. Just inside the back cover, you'll find "Book Notes," a brand-new column by landscape architect and watershape

When we say someone is ‘stone faced,’ observes landscape designer Bobbie Schwartz, we’re thinking of someone who shows no emotion. But in truth, she says, stone is a highly expressive material that imparts a sense of antiquity while giving impressions of permanence, security and serenity. And when you factor in its durability and flexibility, it’s easy to see why stone has been the material of choice for uncounted generations of designers and builders.

Stone Impressions

The ancient Celts transported huge slabs of stone over long distances to create religious circles at Stonehenge and Avebury. The Romans used stone to build their aqueducts. From the pyramids of Egypt to the Acropolis in Athens, from the Great Wall of China to the great castles of Europe, stone has been the raw material of choice for our greatest and most enduring structures. Through the ages, stone has been a well-used material because it is both durable and readily available. It's hard to find a town in Europe without walls constructed of local stone, and all you need do is drive through

It’s a given that watershapers need to maintain close control over design, engineering and construction, especially when they’re working on complex projects and/or challenging sites. That control, says landscape architect and pool builder Mark Holden, can only begin with a clear understanding of the site in topographical and geological terms – an understanding that calls for familiarity with surveys and all the valuable information they offer.

Survey Savvy

Whether it's done using only a tape measure and a pair of experienced eyeballs or requires the help of satellites orbiting the planet, every construction project is surveyed before the work begins. In fact, surveyors have been plying their trade for thousands of years, and their services have been valued for one simple reason: It's really a good idea to measure the size and shape of the ground before you try to build on it. In today's terms, surveying is defined as the process of taking accurate measurements of the land on the X-, Y- and Z axes (that is, in three dimensions) and then translating that data into a usable (usually printed) format. There are several different surveying methods used to measure, process and communicate this critical information, and choosing the right one is essential to getting any watershaping project off to a sound start. So how do you determine the level of detail required and communicate your need to the surveyor so he or she can give you the appropriate level of information? Let's take a look at the different types of surveys in common use and review what those options mean in terms of creating a truly useful array of

Seeking to take a giant step to the forefront of aquatic sports in the United States, the city of Mesa, Ariz., has commissioned the design and construction of a monumental indoor swim center to be built in observance of the strictest international competitive standards. Here’s a look at what’s been involved in realizing the city’s ambition, as seen from the perspective of the pool architecture and engineering firm that was asked to join the design team.

Competition Without Compromise

When it's completed sometime in mid-2002, the Mesa Indoor Aquatic Center will be among the premier U.S. facilities for competitive swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and synchronized diving. Once it's up and running, MIAC will be the country's largest indoor competitive swimming facility owned and operated by a municipality; just as certainly, it will also act for years to come as host to countless world-class aquatic competitions. A project like this

It’s easy for watershapers to get wrapped up in the beauty and creativity involved in design and construction of their projects – and he’s no exception, says fabricated-rock specialist Richard Winget. But that doesn’t mean swimming pools can’t be fun. That in mind, he takes us on a survey of user-friendly rock features that make his pools work for the young and young at heart while getting high marks for their remarkably ‘natural’ looks.

Sculpted for Fun

It's something we in the business overlook all too often: Swimming pools, kids and summertime go together. That's why pools have been so enduringly popular, even at a time when watershapers seem to be focusing more than ever before on principles of design and how their work can be artfully integrated into the landscape. I came to building pools from an extensive background in building man-made rocks for theme parks, which has colored my perspective on the way my pools are used. I've also been swimming in backyard pools since I was a kid, and I've built all sorts of rockwork designs for all sorts of