ARTICLES Archives - Page 43 of 312

Conservation Works

Looking at water resource issues it's easy to despair. Starting with the fact that over a billion people experience some level of water scarcity is obscure to those of us who have lived our entire lives without having to even consider the availability of water beyond

Charging for Design

Charging a fee for design work is one of the foundations of true professionalism across multiple disciplines. That's why Michael W. Nantz won't give away his watershape ideas, partly because it's a solid revenue stream, but also because it builds up a base of pride and self-esteem.

Achieving Blue Mind: Part II

Not everyone achieves Blue Mind in the same way. It's a concept that is extremely personal - and that's why it's so effective to boosting your mental, emotional, and even physical health. By contrast, Red Mind is your body's stress response gone haywire. It can be activated when you're worried about your

Riding the Lazy River

Animating water in the form of a lazy river inspires many prospective pool owners, explains Mike Farley. But the cost and level of difficulty quickly narrow the opportunities, both for clients concerned with affordability and builders who need an important set of design and technical skills.

Why the Wolf?

We've been asked why Watershape University (WU) chose the wolf as its mascot, and why by extension we refer to our team - of students, faculty and partners -- as the "wolfpack"? The simplest answer is that we're basing our organization on the higher-education model, which is why we're a "University." And, in the collegiate world, everyone has a mascot. From the Razorbacks of the University of Arkansas to the Banana Slugs of

Ready to Return

Watershapes University is ready to resume presenting our unique brand of industry education in front of live audiences. Starting in August WU launches an ambitious calendar of events, strategically scattered throughout the country to provide access to as many industry members as possible. We get started August 7-9 in Hamilton New Jersey at the Northeast Spa & Pool Association's (NESPA) headquarters with our new, three-day course on

Achieving Blue Mind: Part 1

The ability to achieve "Blue Mind" is not dependent on a location - such as an ocean, lake, or river. It is also not dependent on being fully submerged in water. While being able to jump into a cool lake on a hot summer day or stand in the waves at a favorite beach spot helps you

Imagine a World

Steve Kenny believes it's time for aquatic professionals to add a new specialty -- one devoted entirely to elevating water quality in both commercial and residential settings. The first step, he says, is imagining a world in which excellence in water quality is simply the norm.

Patience, creativity and adaptability defined the design and installation process for this unique and beautiful project in Plantation, Fla. Along the way, explains Andrew Kaner, the project team navigated multiple challenges while easing the way for clients who expected nothing but the best.

Tasteful Extravagance

When you target the high-end custom market, you'll inevitably work for clients that expect, and can afford to get exactly what they want. That was certainly the situation with the project pictured here. The clients were extremely discerning and were involved the entire way with every little detail. Working that way can be challenging at times, and slow, but it can also bring out your best. We worked on the design of this project for over a year before breaking ground. It was hard trudging most of the way. There were countless discussions and ideas going back and forth, along with

Hot-Weather Shotcrete

Placing shotcrete in hot weather can be a risky proposition if you don't follow basic guidelines. Success under these conditions, reports William Drakeley, calls for controlling concrete temperature and mix design while also managing details of the installation and curing processes.