Professional Watershaping
In my November 2007 column, I discussed the power of friendship and how it can enhance our professional and personal lives. Along the way, I used examples from my own career and kept the focus on a personal level. This time around, however, I’ll be broadening the focus and expanding the concept to cover cultural and even global relationships. One of my key points in November was that by surrounding yourself with a circle of diverse, passionate, knowledgeable and thoughtful friends, you
Designing watershapes of any sort is becoming more and more challenging every day. Where not all that long ago consumers were happy if a pool or spa or fountain or pond simply looked good and operated reliably, there's a new generation of consumers who are much more interested in how these vessels are built and, more specifically, in knowing about how energy efficient they are. This trend is being driven on the one hand by the inevitability of rising utility rates and on the other by legislation such as California's Appliance Efficiency Code (Title 20) - a rule that's attracting the attention of code writers across the country because of the overwhelming importance these days of reducing energy consumption. With that backdrop, this article takes a look at a watershape's main energy consumer and the most basic of all its
The most important skill needed by any designer is the ability to communicate clearly. This skill takes many forms, from verbal descriptions, well-assembled photographs and material samples to graphical depictions of concepts, details, dimensioned layouts and other drawn elements. When a watershaper is pushing design limits, in fact, he or she is often called upon to use all of these communication tools to convey ideas and aspire to offer something unique. In recent years, computer-aided design (CAD) systems have become increasingly popular as a tool in preparing construction drawings. Combined with the designer's creativity, these programs assist greatly in the production of plans. Unfortunately, however, our usage of them varies greatly in style and content from project to project and designer to designer. Indeed, these variations can be so radical that some plans are not easily understood by other professionals; moreover, the exchange of electronic CAD files is not always as convenient or efficient as it should be. This is why a group of industry experts has banded together to create the National CAD Standard (NCS), which is the core subject of this brief series of articles. That effort, which has met
The most important skill needed by any designer is the ability to communicate clearly. This skill takes many forms, from verbal descriptions, well-assembled photographs and material samples to graphical depictions of concepts, details, dimensioned layouts and other drawn elements. When a watershaper is pushing design limits, in fact, he or she is often called upon to use all of these communication tools to convey ideas and aspire to offer something unique. In recent years, computer-aided design (CAD) systems have become increasingly popular as a tool in preparing construction drawings. Combined with the designer's creativity, these programs assist greatly in the production of plans. Unfortunately, however, our usage of them varies greatly in style and content from project to project and designer to designer. Indeed, these variations can be so radical that some plans are not easily understood by other professionals; moreover, the exchange of electronic CAD files is not always as convenient or efficient as it should be. This is why a group of industry experts has banded together to create the National CAD Standard (NCS), which is the core subject of this brief series of articles. That effort, which has met
I've written several times in the past about the fact that more and more landscape architects and designers are getting into watershaping. As evidence, all you need to do is look at design-award competitions in the pool and spa industry and note the increasing number of submissions from landscape professionals: It's even getting to the point in some programs where they're outnumbering participants who come from the traditional pool and spa industry. You'll find even more evidence of this phenomenon on the web sites of landscape-focused companies, where you'll see watershapes of all shapes and descriptions in most of their photo galleries. Moreover, many I know in the pool and spa industry have had the experience of
I've written several times in the past about the fact that more and more landscape architects and designers are getting into watershaping. As evidence, all you need to do is look at design-award competitions in the pool and spa industry and note the increasing number of submissions from landscape professionals: It's even getting to the point in some programs where they're outnumbering participants who come from the traditional pool and spa industry. You'll find even more evidence of this phenomenon on the web sites of landscape-focused companies, where you'll see watershapes of all shapes and descriptions in most of their photo galleries. Moreover, many I know in the pool and spa industry have had the experience of
In this day and age, designers have a variety of ways to communicate their ideas to clients - hand drawings, models and computer imagery among them. We also know every client is unique and that each has his or her own way of absorbing information and processing concepts. Although there are some who never fully understand a designer's vision until a project's been built, most clients will accept one style of design presentation or another and in some way visualize what's happening. In the project we're currently engaged in with an historic Spanish Colonial Revival home in Orange County, Calif., however, we at Holdenwater, a design firm based in Fullerton, Calif., have had to use four
In this day and age, designers have a variety of ways to communicate their ideas to clients - hand drawings, models and computer imagery among them. We also know every client is unique and that each has his or her own way of absorbing information and processing concepts. Although there are some who never fully understand a designer's vision until a project's been built, most clients will accept one style of design presentation or another and in some way visualize what's happening. In the project we're currently engaged in with an historic Spanish Colonial Revival home in Orange County, Calif., however, we at Holdenwater, a design firm based in Fullerton, Calif., have had to use four
I've always believed that one of the keys to happiness is enjoying what you do for a living and savoring each day in one way or another. Yes, we all want to make good money and have the sense that we've risen to a place of status and respect within our profession and, yes, we all know that meaningful work provides many different types of rewards, but for me, the greatest of these accrue to those who don't simply work to live, but instead live to work. When I get up in the morning and assume my role as a watershape designer, I invariably greet each day and its tasks with joy. And it's not simply that I love this business (which I do); more important, it's that I genuinely, honestly appreciate my
I've always believed that one of the keys to happiness is enjoying what you do for a living and savoring each day in one way or another. Yes, we all want to make good money and have the sense that we've risen to a place of status and respect within our profession and, yes, we all know that meaningful work provides many different types of rewards, but for me, the greatest of these accrue to those who don't simply work to live, but instead live to work. When I get up in the morning and assume my role as a watershape designer, I invariably greet each day and its tasks with joy. And it's not simply that I love this business (which I do); more important, it's that I genuinely, honestly appreciate my
