Pools & Spas

Clear Water Perspectives
Convention and common practice often exist to be challenged, says Steve Kenny. In his quest to understand how to consistently achieve superior water quality, he has come to what he views as a watershed opinion – one that will directly challenge the industry’s assumptions about filtration technology. ...
Top 10 Haunted U.S. Pools
Haunted swimming pools may seem like the stuff of lore and legend, but several eerie locations around the world have gained all-too-real reputations for paranormal activity. These haunted pools are full of chilling tales of apparitions, eerie sounds, and unexplainable phenomena, making them both fascinating and unsettling destinations for paranormal thrill-seekers. ...
Seeking a Pre-Fab Pool Solution
For all the staying power of traditional concrete pools, alternative construction types have gained popularity in recent years for a variety of impactful reasons. Case in point, builder/designer Kevin Fleming recently turned to a pre-manufactured pool shell as a way to streamline the installation process and reduce the risk of construction defects. ...
Fine Points: Consider the Cannonball
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Reworking a Classic
This vintage property in the heights of Bel Air overlooking Los Angeles had seen better days when JC Escudero became involved in a sweeping renovation back in 2019. The work, including remodeling the pool and adding a spa, would redefine much of the property, while at the same time remaining true to its Spanish Colonial roots, all part of the latest chapter in the property’s star-studded history.   ...
Unpacking Non-Disclosure Agreements
There’s nothing secret about the increasing prevalence of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) on many, if not most, of today’s most elaborate watershaping projects. More and more, designers and builders are being asked, if not forced, to sign these documents that in many cases prohibit sharing any type of information about the project. ...
“My Prettiest Picture . . . Why?”
The visual grace and simplicity of this deceptively nuanced project betray the slew of design details and careful planning required to pull it off. As David Tisherman explains here, the rooftop Los Angeles pool offered a unique opportunity to apply elevated design principles and technical discipline in a dreamlike, yet challenging, setting. ...
Remembering a Leader: Vance Gillette
As the pool industry mourns the passing of renown leader and advocate, Vance Gillette, WaterShapes editor and long-time friend, Eric Herman, offers a reflection on the career and influence of one of the industry’s most charismatic and outspoken proponents. ...
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. ...
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.     ...