ARTICLES Archives - Page 47 of 314

As is true of all architectural forms, the design of watershapes calls for thinking in three dimensions. In fact, say Texas pool builders Paul Ryan and E.C. Medley, the integration of a vertical dimension is crucial to success, both as a way to contrast to the sublime flatness of the water’s calm surface and to echo surrounding architectural styles and motifs.

Vertical Pursuits

Given the way bodies of water interact with gravity, a great deal of the personality of any swimming pool is set by the flat surface of the water and its reflective qualities. In our work, we've found a variety of ways to capitalize on that flatness by creating focal points that are distinctly vertical in nature. In fact, we've found that working on the "y axis" and focusing on upright structures as diverse as arches, walls, columns and waterfalls can yield a variety of stunning visual effects: Exterior spaces and vistas can be connected or distinguished, architectural shapes can be contrasted or echoed, shadows or reflections can be cast, and privacy or openness can be enhanced. The fact that these effects cut both ways makes them appealing to a custom builder who strives to give clients something unique and lets the characteristics of the individual setting drive the design process. It makes the work more challenging, yes, but it also makes it more fun and rewarding. In many cases, the vertical elements we use can be subtle and retiring - a slightly raised bond beam, for example, or a small waterfall. More often than not, however, we gravitate toward the bold and declarative by integrating water into architectural forms and creating dramatic and

Even under favorable circumstances, installing watershapes beyond the borders of your own country can offer formidable challenges. For his Canada-based fountain company, says Paul L’Heureux, success in establishing effective communications, eliminating wasteful snags and performing up to clients’ expectations means following a clearly defined process – one that keeps his team and its work on track from start to finish, around the globe.

Les Fontaines Internationales

It's a fact: Creating large watershapes for international clients is enough to send a project team's stress levels off the charts. You start with all the usual pressures of time, money and prestige that go along with performing on the global level. Then there are cultural differences, not to mention local environmental concerns having to do with water usage. And these factors can give you trouble even when you think you know what you're getting yourself into. Through the years, our company has learned many lessons about the importance of accommodating the cultural and economic overtones of what we do. From our base in Toronto, Crystal Fountains pursues projects the world over and always strives to

WU Launches Wolfpack Webinar Wednesdays

As members of the watershaping industry and the rest of the world ride it out during the COVID 19 pandemic, Watershape University has its sights set on the future with a variety of live schools and new content in the works. We are, however, also focused on the here and now, and we know that many of you are looking for ways to take advantage of online educational opportunities during this time of social distancing. That's why we decided to

Finding Your Water

One of water's super powers is the ability to alter our state of mind. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic began, our world -- with its over-stimulation and over-connectedness - was causing stress and anxiety for countless people, all of which results in what author Wallace "J" Nichols calls

Typical of Scottsdale, Ariz. this project featured a stunning contemporary design in an ultra high-end neighborhood. The watershapes included an eye-popping rooftop pool/spa combination, a massive entryway-reflecting pond and a host of precise construction details. Making it all work, explains Rich Chafey, required detailed computer modeling, and multiple layers of waterproofing.

Elevated Ambitions

Elevated watershapes present challenges you don't typically encounter on inground projects. That was certainly the case with this ambitious residential installation where the rooftop pool and entryway waterfeatures were all integral to the home's luxurious, ultra-contemporary design. We were part of a project team that included a custom homebuilder, a company we had known of for years but had never worked with before because of a long working relationship the company had with another local pool builder. This project was unlike any that the pool company had ever tackled before and was

WaterShapes’ editor, Eric Herman, is passionate about all aspects of water, and he’s made it his business to understand how it impacts the human condition. He recently spent four years living in Washington State where he and his wife found profound examples of water’s ability to shape lives. Here’s what he has to say about that experience.

The Waters of Washington

The word "awesome" is badly overused these days, but not so when it comes to describing the waters of Washington State, where living in a state of awe is a common state of mind. My wife, Diane, and I recently concluded four years living in the wilderness there and came away from that experience with deepened appreciations for the many ways the presence of water influences how people live. Not to mention how water shapes everything from politics to geography to the names of the professional sports teams. The presence of water in the landscape profoundly impacts the lives of the people who live around it, and that's been true throughout human history. Because we rely on the presence of water for our survival - as well as transportation, recreation, agriculture and manufacturing everything from medicine to steel - how we choose to

Working on the Waterfront

Locating pools and other types of watershapes adjacent to natural bodies of water presents a range of exciting design opportunities. Perhaps the most familiar is the iconic vanishing edge, a design feature that remains a popular choice for water-side sites where

Xeriscaping is all about creating landscapes that are sustainable in dry climates, but that doesn’t mean spaces devoid of life or only populated by cacti, says Michael Logsdon. In fact, he explains, water-wise landscapes can be surprisingly vibrant and colorful, as well as low maintenance, but you have to think beyond the rocks and prickly pear.

Discovering Xeriscapes

The word xeriscape is one of those terms that most everyone has heard but few truly understand. When we think of xeriscapes or xeriscaping, most people immediately visualize a dry almost lifeless desert landscape with rocks and cactus. Because the "x" is pronounced like a "z" the word is often mistaken for a fancy way of spelling zeroscapes, which implies that it has no plantings or uses zero water. Neither is true. Working in the arid climates of the Texas hill country, I've embraced the xeriscaping concept as a way to create sustainable and inviting landscapes with minimal irrigation, but again, that does not

Planting Presence

Back when we launched WaterShapes, just over 21 years ago, the magazine surprised lots of people for a variety of reasons: Its broad focus on all types of water systems; the fact that it's written in the first person by industry experts and not

Establishing primary and secondary sightlines within a space is one of the first design tasks on almost any project, observes Mike Farley. Doing so sets the stage for numerous decisions that follow and allows you to maximize visual impact from indoors -- and outdoors as well.

Guided by Sight

Designing with line of sight in mind is something I think about a lot. Knowing where to place things so they will be seen, or in some cases not seen, is arguably square one in the design process. That's why when I talk to my clients one of the first things I ask is, "What's the most important view in the house?" I start there because it's something they are going to be looking at 365 days a year, probably morning, noon and night. The answers are mostly the same, the living room, dining room or kitchen. Every once in a while, someone