Breaking Ground with Expanding Demolition Grout
There’s more than one way to break apart a rock, or an old retaining wall, or any other dispensable stone or concrete structure. From jackhammers to dynamite, demolitionists have always had options. Here Mike Nantz discusses a lesser known method that is both quieter and more precise than other more dramatic forms of deconstruction. ...
The Alhambra: A Testament to Moorish Splendor
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. ...
Water for Peace and Prosperity
The UN’s annual report summarizing global water-related challenges paints a complex picture characterized by increasing demand for long-term planning and policy-making across governments, industry and science worldwide.  ...
For the Love of Sea Turtles
Are sea turtles medicine? To survive, sea turtles need our help and are the perfect group of animals for Wildlife Conservation Therapy, which helps us in return, explained the late Wallace J. Nichols in this widely read essay on the importance of sea turtles. ...
Finding Hope in ‘The Clothes They Wore’
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance has launched a new drowning prevention campaign created to draw attention to the random nature of child drowning incidents – the leading cause of death for children 1-to-4 years old – most of which happen when kids are not wearing a bathing suit.   ...
I Wish You Water: Celebrating the Legacy of Wallace J. Nichols
World Blue Mind Day is observed on July 23rd each year to recognize the emotional benefits of spending time near, in, on, or under healthy bodies of water. When the concept’s founder, Wallace J. Nichols passed away this past June, he left behind profound contributions to our understanding of the human connection to water. Blue Mind is his lasting legacy. ...
Square Roots & Cross Purposes
Tailoring pool designs that marry the clients’ desires with the setting is always top-of-mind for Joan Roca. Here, he describes a project on the Florida coast that stands as a perfect example of his design approach. In this case, he turned to a basic shape and a host of custom details, to create a watershape that offers function, and a striking centerpiece that unifies house, land and sea.     ...
The Misguided Push to Eliminate Natural Gas from California’s Backyards
Legislative moves to prohibit natural gas from backyards in California is badly misguided, argues Scott Cohen. While reducing carbon emissions is a valid objective, he says, trying to do so by eliminating natural gas-driven amenities does little to help the environment while stabbing at the heart of the state’s renown outdoor lifestyle. ...
Theme Ships Ahoy
Given that ships and shipwrecks are inherently tied to water, it only makes sense that interactive, ship-themed splashpad water features are a natural fit, for ocean enthusiasts and landlopers alike. Here’s a look inside the popular interactive-fountain genre. ...
WU Launches New Student Experience Portal
Watershapes University is proud to announce a new user portal platform now available for all existing and future WU students. This new user experience consolidates multiple functions and databases into one, easy-to-use portal with a single sign-on that facilitates enrolling in live and online courses, and receiving certifications for course completions. It’s a useful tool that will help WU students access the education they need to reach their full potential. ...