Structures (Editor’s Notes)

Natural Inspirations
Through the years, a number of key themes have almost effortlessly woven their ways into columns and features published in WaterShapes.  Some of these include the value of design education, the significance of familiarity with art history, the importance of materials selections and the virtues of sound hydraulic design, to name just a few.   Another theme that stands among the most common of all our overarching concepts has to do with
Joy and Glory
Just a couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of spending the day with a long-time WaterShapes contributor – and my good friend – Dr. William N. Rowley.  Just a year ago this month, Bill was one of the first recipients of the McCloskey Prize, and as we noted at the time, he has from the start of the magazine been a tireless supporter of our efforts to build pride and professionalism
Finding Hope
This is almost certainly the toughest column I’ve ever written – and probably the most important. In past editorials, it hasn’t been unusual for me to share various forms of personal information, some of it about my family, some of it concerning my own health.  I’ve been keenly gratified by the words of support I’ve received from colleagues and friends on those occasions, and I thank you here, one and all. This is, I fear, another of those occasions, as I
To the Forefront
I’ve always enjoyed spotting trends in watershaping, and I think I’ve found another that bears mentioning. This one first caught my eye on my daily walks through the neighborhood surrounding my home in Laguna Beach, Calif.  I’ve always reveled in the creativity homeowners in this upscale seaside enclave apply in detailing their properties.  Better still, it’s a place where no two homes are the same and almost everyone takes
Direct Access
More than ever, the Internet is shaping the way we communicate and run our businesses.  As I’ve mentioned previously, this why we’ve been working for a year now to enhance watershapes.com, backing the magazine up with resources and features designed to give you
Clear Choices
Among all of the many projects we’ve published in WaterShapes, a few have stood out as being extraordinary because of the artful ways they combine glass with water.  In capable hands, the properties of solid and liquid combine to make statements about both materials that are constantly
To Better Days!
I imagine that many of you said “good riddance” instead of “farewell” to 2008 – and that almost as many of you might want to skip right over the looming uncertainty of 2009 completely and head directly into 2010. Nobody can jump
Material Issues
At a meeting in Phoenix in August 2008, Kirk Butler of Cactus Stone & Tile described watershape designers and builders as practitioners of "the science of selection" when it comes to deciding which products and materials to use in their projects. His observation immediately rang bells for me:  At that point late in the summer, we
Material Issues
At a meeting in Phoenix in August 2008, Kirk Butler of Cactus Stone & Tile described watershape designers and builders as practitioners of "the science of selection" when it comes to deciding which products and materials to use in their projects. His observation immediately rang bells for me:  At that point late in the summer, we
Deconstructing a Hazard
It's common knowledge that getting into any body of water - large, small, natural, man-made - involves a certain level of risk.  Despite all the healthful benefits of water recreation, despite all of the immense psychological and even spiritual appeal of even being in water's presence, the brutal truth is that, in certain conditions, simply