2016/12.2, December 21 — Outdoor Detailing, Froggy Time, Fountain Foibles and more

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

December 21, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Indoors Out

When Ian McGregor approaches a backyard project, he does all he can to embrace the entire environment. In doing so for this project, he created connections between existing indoor spaces and new outdoor rooms that echo familiar functions while injecting dashes of fun. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Frog Factors

If frogs show up in a pond, writes Mike Gannon, it’s a sure sign that the water is healthy. But it also means some extra chores for the pondkeeper — including a need to massage a few details to persuade these finicky amphibian guests to stick around for a while. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

A Quizzical Space

He’d probably never have found it while walking at street level, but the view from Jim McCloskey‘s hotel room in New Orleans included a strange-looking park space that led him to investigate and discover the history of a controversial post-modern fountain. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Color Keys

Even though color is literally everywhere, most people know surprisingly little about it. That’s a knowledge gap designers in particular should overcome, says artist, colorist and teacher Judith Corona, who adds that understanding the nature of color, how it influences moods and emotions and how a color wheel works are all useful when it comes to making valuable recommendations to clients about their watershapes and landscapes.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in August 2006, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

The Mysterious Leaking Fountain

Here, Scott Cohen relates the case of a fountain that continued to leak sporadically despite repeated attempts to fix it — a crazy process in which he tried the same thing time and again, hoping for a different result. Read on to learn what the problem was and how he fixed it. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Stocking Stuffers

Santa Claus came early for Jim McCloskey this year, placing good news about learn-to-swim programs in what had to that point been his empty stocking and helping him see a much clearer path to watershaping’s future — one lined with far greater hope. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Class Act Dept.: A Tennessee family contributes the contents of its big pond to help fight raging fires. [more]

Better still, the local water utility will chip in on the refill.

Necessity’s Child Dept.: Tokyo’s code restrictions lead an architect to turn the entire second floor into a pool. [more]

It may look like an aquarium — but what a daring solution!

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

That’s Just Wrong

Back in 2006, Stephanie Rose vented in her Natural Companions column about some boneheaded landscaping decisions she’d seen — and suggested a forthright approach to preventing them. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Mexican Thatch from Backyard X-Scapes

Backyard X-Scapes (San Diego, CA) supplies Mexican thatch for use in creating tiki bars, gazebos, umbrellas and more. The material, which is made up of woven palm leaves, comes as panels, runner rolls and top cones that are easy to install and durable enough for long-term outdoor use. The surface also sheds water, making it an ideal roofing material. For details, click here.

In-Pool Chaises from Ledge Lounger

Ledge Lounger (Houston, TX) offers in-pool chaises to provide contoured, comfortable places to relax on shallow-water ledges within both commercial and residential swimming pools. Made from durable, color-stabilized material, the contoured seats are made for ledges up to nine inches deep; resist chemicals and weather; and are available in 11 colors. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Ready
for 2017?

No marketing or promotional plan you have for 2017 (and beyond) will be complete without putting the WaterShapes Professional Network to work on your company’s behalf. You produce spectacular projects; WPN is here to help you call your skills and talents to the attention of homeowners and others who are interested in making water part of their daily lives.

To make that happen, we’ve built a collective web presence the search engines can’t overlook. So if it’s a strong (or stronger) web presence you’re after, check it out.

The Network is working just the way we’d hoped: Time to click aboard?

2016/12.1, December 7 — Glass-Tile Candor, Pond Details, Water Resuscitation and more

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

December 7, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Glass-Tile Dynamics

Beautiful glass tile can be the crowning touch for a great watershape. But if the budget’s not really there, advises Paolo Benedetti, you should avoid the urge to cut corners with materials or installation to make it work: You’ll only disappoint your client — and hurt your bottom line. [more]

POND Q & A

Pond Decisions

As Eric Triplett observes in this two-topic video session, a leaking pond liner requires decisive action — no shortcuts allowed! — while a shortcut that never should be taken in excavation (but often is) can lead to problems that will pull you back on site to rebuild a major pond feature. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Transition Water

Floating islands were a novelty ten years ago, but now they’re established, well-researched systems that have proved their value in fixing damaged ponds and lakes. It’s all about restoring food webs, says Bruce Kania — and learning to grow fish instead of mats of algae. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Natural Transitions

The home sat above the shoreline of Seattle’s Mercer Island like a modern, angular beacon. The challenge, says watershape designer/builder Clayton Varick, was to weave the residence more successfully into its lakeside surroundings — a mission accomplished by setting up a string of pools, streams, waterfalls, ponds and plantings that effectively create transitions from the starkly geometrical to the breathtakingly natural.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in February 2004, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Original Intent

Set atop a knoll in Beverly Hills, Calif., the Virginia Robinson Gardens represent one of the city’s last examples of the high-society garden style of the early 20th Century. It’s a must-see place, suggests Tim Lindsay, if business (or pleasure) brings you to the area. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Water’s Power

A recent visit to New Orleans and Mississippi’s Gulf Coast gave Jim McCloskey a chance to size up how much progress the region has made since Hurricane Katrina struck 11 years ago. Along the way, he learned stark lessons about the awesomeness of water. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

That Time of Year Dept.: Newspaper compiles amazing photographs of frozen ponds, lakes and oceans. [more]

Some are oddly haunting, others simply breathtaking.

Mad Scientist Dept.: Artist uses ‘ferrofluid’ to create a small (but utterly fascinating) reflecting pool. [more]

Somehow, watershapers need to get hold of this stuff!

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

The Big Picture

Back in 2006, Brian Van Bower relayed a message about the value of examining trends and looking thoughtfully to the future. His words were prophetic ten years ago — and are bracingly cautionary today. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Pebble Technology Launches Scupper Line

Pebble Technology (Scottsdale, AZ) has introduced a line of copper scuppers. Available with sheet, trough or chute flows, the units feature dual-stage internal weirs for balanced flow dynamics and a consistent water sheet. They also resist clogging, are made with durable 100-percent copper and include reinforced inside corners for structural integrity. For details, click here.

SpectraLight Technologies Offers UV Systems

SpectraLight Technologies (Georgetown, TX) makes ultraviolet sterilization systems for use with both conventional and saltwater pools. The systems feature high-intensity UV-C germicidal light to target all microorganisms as they pass through the cell, destroying 99% of all bacteria, viruses, algae, giardia, parasites, spores and protozoan cysts. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Progress
Report

A recent review of the activity of visitors to the WaterShapes Professional Network indicates that the landing pages of each participating company have been viewed, on average, more than 400 times through the past 18 months — and that those landing-page visits have resulted in an average of nearly 220 click-throughs apiece to those companies’ own web sites.

It also shows that the companies that have stepped up to provide project pictorials to the WPN site’s home page have averaged nearly 60 percent more visits and click-throughs compared to other WPN participants. Seems as though putting in a little extra effort translates to a heap of extra interest and leads.

The Network is working just the way we’d hoped: Time to click aboard?

2016/11.2, November 16 — Rustic Remake, Easement Squeeze, Ancient Inspiration and more

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

November 16, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Natural Revision

Her clients had purchased a property with good potential, writes Colleen Holmes, but it took a lot of effort to turn the rundown jumble she found into the home of their dreams. It started with a coat of paint and a stabilized slope — then came the hot tub, waterfall and hitching posts. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Access Excess

Encountering a backyard with a good bit of room but a super-wide easement, Tanr Ross dug deep to optimize the space for a pair of design-oriented clients. It took plenty of creativity to organize all the features, he says, but now it works — both functionally and aesthetically. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

One for the Ages

Southern California has certain advantages when it comes to garden possibilities. And that’s nowhere more evident than at the Huntington Gardens, which Jim McCloskey

describes as the kind of place where something you’d ordinarily see only in China is ready to greet you. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Alive by Design

For more than 35 years, sculptor Dale J. Evers has created sculptures that feature a broad spectrum of marine and aquatic life. In recent years, however, the focus of his work has moved from the refined atmosphere of art galleries into the world of watershape and landscape design — a shift, he says, that has energized his work and led him to a mode of design that lets him draw his cues not only from nature, but also from clients and settings.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in September 2006, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Installing Spa-Side Controls

The pool leaked every time the adjoining spa was activated. The problem, says Scott Cohen, was that whoever installed the spa’s controller forgot to seal the connection to the PVC pipe — a potentially dangerous situation that could easily have been avoided. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Brighter Horizons

Back home after the 2016 International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo, Jim McCloskey shares his impressions on how the industry is rearranging itself — and suggests that everyone interested in its future needs to start paying attention and think about stepping up and getting involved. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Coke Is It! Dept.: Man fills pool with Coca-Cola and drives his car in to remove rust. Surprise: It didn’t work. [more]

If only he’d had a couple cases of Mentos on hand . . .

Don’t Mess with Fun Dept.: Gigantic Texas-shaped lazy-river pool is set to open atop a Houston hotel. [more]

It’s proof that everything is bigger in the Lone Star State.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

The Anxieties of Influence

With characteristic passion, David Tisherman was all over a key topic back in 2001 — something he saw as the crux of his competitive edge and a level to which ambitious watershapers all should aspire. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Atlantic Water Garden’s Rain Harvesting System

Atlantic Water Gardens (Mantua, OH) has assembled a rain-harvesting kit for residential use. The Model RHKIT1000EBS system has a capacity of 1,008 gallons and includes a downspout diverter, a pump vault, a submersible pressure pump, a 25-by-25-foot liner, underlayment, water-containment blocks and a range of required fittings. For details, click here.

Advantage Manufacturing Offers Fire-Pump Cart

Advantage Manufacturing (Tustin, CA) offers a fire-pump cart for use in property protection before the fire department arrives. Designed to draw water from available pools, ponds and other waterfeatures, the durable gas-powered unit comes with a 20-foot suction hose fitted with a strainer and a 25-foot-long discharge hose with an adjustable nozzle. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Lost in
the Crowd?

Watershapers have an astounding ability to produce spectacular work — and real difficulty when it comes to calling their skills and talents to the attention of homeowners and others who are interested in making water part of their daily lives.

That’s where the WaterShapes Professional Network comes in: By building a collective web presence in which dozens and, eventually, hundreds of sites participate as an interlinked colossus, it involves watershapers in a group entity large enough that the search engines can’t overlook it. So if it’s a strong (or stronger) web presence you’re after, check it out.

The Network is working just the way we’d hoped: Time to click aboard?

2016/11.1, November 2 — Extreme Streamcraft, Pond Leaks, D.I.Y. Pools and more

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

November 2, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Broader Horizons

Asked to install a 1,200-foot-long steam/waterfall system for the final hole of a high-end golf course, Tim Krzeminski applied his consummate stream-crafting skill — and what he learned in local hikes — to produce a gorgeous water hazard any duffer would be happy to avoid. [more]

POND Q & A

Pond-Leak Detectives

When a pondowner calls him to report a suspicious water loss, Eric Triplett knows better than to jump to quick conclusions about its cause. He also knows that, when he arrives on site to start his investigation, he has to set one task above all others as his highest priority. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

The D.I.Y. Trap

While he understands why some homeowners might think that acting as their own pool contractor is a good idea, Paolo Benedetti also knows it’s likely to be a huge mistake. That’s why he wants professional watershapers to get involved and be part of the solution. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Welcome to Paradise

When it comes to listing the most extensive, ambitious uses of water in recreational settings, the resort property known as Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas, should quickly come to mind. With its multiple swimming pools, waterslides, fountains and huge marine exhibits, the project took six years to complete, says the resort’s aquatic sciences vice president Steve Kaiser, and is a magical experience for anyone who admires creative watershaping.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in February 2004, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Native Vision

The watershapes of the National Museum of the American Indian came with a high-minded design mission as well as a significant set of technical challenges, notes Dominic Shaw. Visiting it on the Capitol Mall is a must the next time you take in the sights of Washington, D.C. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

The Unfolding Process

His travel schedule ledJim McCloskey to file his latest blog a few days early, but he knows a key event will take place in New Orleans on November 1, and he wants to call attention to it if only to raise expectations for the positive, productive outcomes he foresees. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Cool Pools Dept.: Interior Design magazine steps outside to highlight ten totally cool swimming pools. [more]

The first is familiar — and the rest of them should be, too.

Pop Star Dept.: Artist paints portrait of David Bowie as ‘Major Tom’ on the floor of a Seattle-area pool. [more]

The video shows how the entire process unfolded.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Riding a Wave

Ten years ago, Brian Van Bower pointed out with pride that watershaping was being viewed in a favorable light by influential people beyond the industry — and he wanted his readers to take full advantage of it. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

ClearWater Tech Offers Microzone Systems

ClearWater Tech (San Luis Obispo, CA) makes the Microzone Series of corona-discharge ozone generators. The compact, plug-and-play units are wall-mounted, require no air preparation and are designed to operate in a wide range of environments including residential pools and spas and ornamental waterfeatures that require disinfection. For details, click here.

S.R. Smith Makes WetDek Waterfeatures

S.R. Smith (Canby, OR) manufactures WetDek, a zero-depth interactive waterfeature system that can serve as a backyard splash park or an elegant fountain. Available in stand-alone and pool-companion styles, both models feature multiple jet configurations and AquaDirector control boxes that allow for customized system management. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

See You
at the Show?

The WaterShapes Professional Network will be on hand in New Orleans from November 2-4 at the International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo. Please do stop by Booth 563 — right in the heart of the Genesis Pavilion — to learn more about the Network and discuss its future plans.

Participants in the program have shared their listings with thousands of the consumer-oriented site’s visitors in the past year — and those encounters have resulted in significant traffic from the Network to the listed companies’ own web sites. It’s a marvelous marketing opportunity — ‘consumer-friendly’ in the richest sense of the term.

The Network is working just the way we’d hoped: Time to click aboard?

2016/10.2, October 19 — Tile Detailing, Pond Themes, Storied Fountains and more

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

October 19, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Defined by Details

When Jimmy Reed approaches intersections of planes in tile surfaces, he sizes up the situation and figures out ways to complete the transitions with polished visual dexterity. It’s not easy work, but he knows that these deft touches turn the common into the awesome. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Themes, Anyone?

He’s a longtime believer in using naturalistic approaches in pond design and installation. But lately, Mike Gannon has also spent some time questioning that foundation — and wondering out loud if there might be value in looking at his design options in new and divergent ways. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

The Lakers and Linda Blair

When the weather’s nice, Minneapolis has a lot to offer visitors. This includes a beautiful fountain in Loring Park, writes Jim McCloskey, with a backstory that features both a scary (but highly successful) movie from the 1970s and a fabulous (but portable) 1950s sports franchise. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Life in an Oasis

The Entrada Golf Course on the outskirts of St. George, Utah, stands at the heart of an unusual cluster of housing developments. For more than five years, watershaper Richard Allen worked non-stop to integrate the entire, grand composition through its watershapes, from big lakes and watercourses to intimate streams that run along the property lines of many of the homes — all in the name of creating a much-desired oasis in an arid landscape.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in October 2004, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Singing the Relief-Valve Blues

If a hydrostatic relief valve is put in improperly or not at all, observes Scott Cohen, it can result in a catastrophic situation — one that can leave homeowners with repair bills so monumental that they’ll do everything in their power to extract the costs from careless builders. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Mission: New Orleans

It’s nearly November: Are you ready for the annual gathering of the tribes known as the International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo? Jim McCloskey is — almost — and will be there in Booth 563 to chat with friends old and new while on an important WaterShapes mission. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Fountain Perfection Dept.: Italian vintner sets up a 24/7 red-wine fountain on a hallowed pilgrimage road. [more]

They say it’s definitely not for drunkards. Time will tell . . .

When in Rome Dept.: Fashion’s House of Fendi uses Trevi Fountain as the stage for a runway show. [more]

I guess funding its restoration brought some privileges.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Paying the Frontrunner Fee

Back in November 2001, Brian Van Bower wrote with characteristic passion in his Aqua Culture column about the demands of creativity and the necessity of getting involved with it in a highly motivating way. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Multi-Stage Pond Filters from OASE

OASE (Corona, CA) makes the BioTec 18000 multi-stage mechanical/ biological filter for large ponds or ponds with many fish. The mechanical filter captures particles and debris on a 300-micron mesh that cleans itself automatically. The biological filter uses foam loaded with beneficial bacteria to convert ammonia and nitrites to plant-supporting nitrates. For details, click here.

Lightcraft Improves Its Bistro Lighting

Lightcraft Outdoor Environments (Chatsworth, CA) has upgraded its 12-volt LED S14 Bistro Lamps, now with sealed construction and improved circuitry. Sold by the foot and available with 24-inch spacing between sockets, the strings are also available as 120-volt systems; with shades; and with optional 15-inch spacing between sockets. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Accessible
Resources

The WaterShapes Professional Network is a credible, unified web presence where consumers can find uniformly formatted, easily processed information. It gives them initial access to the marketplace in an environment that guides them comfortably and confidently through the earliest stages of a significant purchasing decision.

Some homeowners and facility managers are lucky enough when they start looking for watershapes to have friends or colleagues who can refer them to suitable firms. But more often, these consumers are on their own — and most start by searching on the Internet, where finding individual watershapers is a hit-and-miss process. WPN takes the frustration out of the quest by offering a common, neutral web resource filled with possibilities.

The Network is working just the way we’d hoped: Time to click aboard?

2016/10.1, October 5 — Distant Beauty, Pond Liner ABCs, Shotcrete’s Place and more

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

October 5, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Slices of Heaven

Working at a distance is nothing new for Brian Van Bower, whose projects frequently carry him across the globe. But this one on a beach in Sri Lanka tested his limits, both in the scope and scale of the project and in the fact that it was all done without him ever visiting the site! [more]

POND Q & A

Luxury Liners

What determines a pond professional’s choice among available liner materials? That’s a great question, writes Eric Triplett — one he addresses in detail in the latest installment of his ask-the-expert series on pond philosophy, technology and techniques. [more]

CONCRETE PERCEPTIONS

Shotcrete Rising

In the final installment of their series on the history and development of the shotcrete method of concrete application, William Drakeley and Lily Samuels examine the industry’s current state of the art — then cast an optimistic eye toward the approach’s future. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Swimming to Wellness

Most people know that swimming is a great form of exercise, but far fewer seem aware that getting in the water can mean the difference between a life of disability and one of well being for those who live with chronic injuries and illnesses. In this special feature, Barbara Goldstein describes how a daily swimming regimen has enabled her to stay fit and able in mind, body and spirit while keeping symptoms of three serious medical conditions at bay.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in January 2008, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Cutting Edges

The pools at St. Lucia’s Jade Mountain are among the most ambitious watershapes ever attempted: In all, the project encompasses 26 interwoven vanishing-edge vessels, each one unique — and every one worth seeing, says Skip Phillips, if you have the chance to visit. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

A Mighty Chorus

A recent article appearing on an outdoorsy web site captured the spirit behind what Jim McCloskey calls the ‘river-pool movement.’ He’s beyond happy to confirm that he is definitely not alone in seeing this campaign’s potential to change urban waterfronts forever. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

History Lessons Dept.: It took some skateboarders to find the first-ever kidney-shaped pool — in Finland! [more]

It beat Thomas Church’s and seems to have inspired him.

Art Projects Dept.: Muralist turns a plain parking garage into an amazing display of hydrological power. [more]

It’d be nice if this inspired similar efforts, well, everywhere.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Working in Color

Stephanie Rose called for disciplined thinking in her column from October 2006, urging designers to integrate the way they think about a key visual component to make clients happy, satisfied and proud. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

AlkorPlan Swimming Pool Linings from Natare

Natare (Indianapolis, IN) offers AlkorPlan, a durable, watertight pool lining system that is easily installed and works both with renovations and new construction. The decorative, tear-resistant material can be installed over any type of substrate with minimal surface preparation, adapts to all shapes and pool configurations and won’t crack, peel or chip. For details, click here.

Mill Stone Fountain Kits from Aqua Bella

Aqua Bella (Saginaw, MI) offers Swirl Style mill-stone fountains. Designed to bring a touch of history to any setting, each kit comes complete with a fountain basin, a pump, tubing, plumbing and polished pebbles. The mill stones, available in three diameters from 18 to 36 inches, are paired with pumps ranging in flow from 370 to 660 gallons per minute. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Getting
Ready

The WaterShapes Professional Network will be on hand in New Orleans from November 2-4 at the International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo. Please do stop by Booth 563 — right in the heart of the Genesis Pavilion — to learn more about the Network and discuss its future plans.

Participants in the program have shared their listings with thousands of our site visitors in the past year — and those visits have resulted in significant traffic from the Network to the listed companies’ own web sites. It’s a marvelous marketing opportunity — ‘consumer-friendly’ in the richest sense of the term.

The Network is working just the way we’d hoped: Time to click aboard?

2016/9.2, September 21 — Hilltop Staging, Pond Pests, Shimmering Reflections and more

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

September 21, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

All About the View

The hilltop spec house called for a soft-spoken pool and spa that didn’t interfere with the great view beyond. So he started with a simple form, writes Ben Lasseter — then focused his creative energies on details that make cool impressions when it’s time to take a closer look. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Crime-Scene Ponds

Most ponds are at the mercy of predators of one sort or another. In Mike Gannon‘s experience, however, there are two usual suspects he knows he can ignore — and a whole class of offenders who can’t seem to resist stopping by to feast on fishy treats. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Brilliant Reflections

This watershape was built long after Jim McCloskey‘s one-and-only visit to Bordeaux. But a composition by Jean-Max Llorca is now on his must-see list the next time he heads to France to indulge his fondness for beautiful reflections — and perhaps for fine wine as well! [more]

ESSENTIAL

Teaming Perfection

Every great watershaping project involves a measure of design inspiration followed up by an equivalent measure of excellence in execution. In some cases, notes watershaper Brian Van Bower, a single entity or person drives both processes, but it’s increasingly common these days for superb projects to be the result of a team effort — a collaboration among architects, designers, contractors and subcontractors aligned in pursuit of a shared goal.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in October 2007, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Bad Plot Plans, Big Changes

What happens when building plans vary significantly from the reality on the ground? It’s not good, writes Scott Cohen, which is why he recommends instituting an easily implemented procedure that keeps all parties focused and helps everyone avoid nasty surprises. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

I’m Not Alone . . .

Among Jim McCloskey‘s many current fixations, there are two that have gained some truly wonderful media exposure in recent weeks — one of which he sees as a golden business opportunity, the other of which he hopes will encourage a major preservation campaign. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Up Too Close Dept.: Scientists use an electron microscope to capture images of common algae. [more]

The photos are lovely, but I still don’t want ’em in my pool!

Underwater Noodling Dept.: Band plays a spooky-sounding tune from within water-filled containers. [more]

The well-edited clips don’t let you see anyone breathe.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Creative Genus

Back in 2006, Stephanie Rose wrote in Natural Companions about a plant near and dear to her heart — and made a suggestion that offers designers an easy opportunity to broaden their horizons. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Crystal Fountains Launches RGBW Lighting Options

Crystal Fountains (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) has implemented an RGBW option throughout its LED lighting lines, expanding the available lighting palette in products such as the LED 260 light to include up to 4.2 billion unique color combinations. The key is the addition of a white diode that allows for a fuller color spectrum. For details, click here.

Pole Holders from Color Match Pool Fittings

Color Match Pool Fittings (Surprise, AZ) makes pole holders for concrete pools and spas. Designed for 1-1/2-inch umbrellas, volleyball posts and tiki torches, the sleeves come in five- and seven-inch models; are available in eight colors; can be placed on floors, steps or decks; include threaded sealing caps; and have built-in, leak-reducing water stops. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Making the Right
Connections

There’s no doubt about it: You who design and build pools, spas, fountains, ponds, streams, waterfalls and other forms of contained, controlled water have an amazing ability to produce works of great beauty. But you also face real challenges when it comes to conveying messages about your skills and talents to prospective clients who might be interested in having you help them make water part of their daily lives.

That’s where the WaterShapes Professional Network can help: We’ve built a web presence in which dozens (and, eventually, hundreds) of designers and builders of watershapes of all types participate as an interlinked colossus — a group entity large and interconnected enough that the search engines have to treat it with respect. So if it’s a strong (or even just a stronger) web presence you’re after, please do take a look and get involved.

The Network is working just the way we’d hoped: Time to click aboard?

2016/9.1, September 7 — Trash-Pit Makeover, Pond Conversations, Drain Dynamics and more

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

September 7, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Trash to Treasure

The old poolscape had its problems — chief among them having been built partly over a huge trash pit. Correcting that situation was no fun, but it was only the first step in a process that saw Shane LeBlanc revise and upgrade the space from the back door to the view beyond. [more]

POND Q & A

Key Conversations

Whether he’s working with clients or staff, being in the pond business reminds Eric Triplett every day of the value and importance of clear communication. And on certain occasions, he adds, it’s mighty helpful to know how to parlay with the fish who populate his handiwork. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Drain Wisdom

With new rules and varying codes, setting up drain systems for pools and spas is more complicated than it once was, notes Paolo Benedetti. Here, he offers a bit of technical advice that will help clarify the process — and make it easier for systems to pass inspection. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Facing the Future

Mastering the fine points of stream, pond and waterfall design and construction generally takes years of patient practice, but a young Tim Krzeminski seems bent on condensing the process: Already, his work has a sophistication and visual appeal that delight those who see it; as important, he has a growing list of clients who are more than willing to let him exceed their expectations and make the most of the spaces they offer him.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in July 2009, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Where Streams Live

Designing and building a stream is no small task, especially if the mission is to create a convincingly ‘natural’ look. No matter where he’s working, Greg Anderson steps out to see local water on its own terms — and offers this article as a professional’s work-anywhere guide. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Fountain Foolishness?

News items about people being chased out of public fountains have been unusually numerous this summer, leading a conflicted Jim McCloskey to ask where you stand when it comes to dealing with peoples’ irresistible desire to get wet and beat the heat. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Walking with Fish Dept.: Digital artists create a psychedlic pond where Koi swim — and burst to form flowers. [more]

It’s a wild sensory experience, colorful and surprising.

Integrated Arts Dept.: Polish fountain sculptor uses water to add levels of meaning and texture to her work. [more]

A few are odd, but the melting ice block is a stunner.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

To the Good Life!

Back in 2001, Brian Van Bower wrote passionately about what he saw as his best shot at reaching into many of his clients’ lives — a factor that speeds communication and brings on shared delight. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Pebble Technology Unveils Pebble Brilliance

Pebble Technology (Scottsdale, AZ) now offers Pebble Brilliance, a blend of glass beads and natural stone aggregates. The glass beads infuse the finished surface with deep color, while the overall blend provides long-lasting durability with a rich texture. Available in eight standard mixes, the blend also incorporates shell material for extra luster. For details, click here.

Atlantic Water Gardens Introduces Splash Rings

Atlantic Water Gardens (Mantua, OH) offers Splash Rings to keep stones in place and manage spillway or waterfall splash. Made of 304 stainless steel with steel or copper finishes, the rings can be placed mesh up for a less-conspicuous look or mesh down to show off the broad trim ring. They come in three sizes: 16 by 8, 28 by 8 and 40 by 8 inches. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Building
Credibility,
Step by Step

The WaterShapes Professional Network is all about building a credible, unified web presence where numerous watershapers can convey uniformly formatted, readily compared information in an easily navigated consumer resource. By doing so, WPN gives consumers initial access to the marketplace in an environment that guides them comfortably and confidently through the earliest stages of a significant purchasing decision.

True, some homeowners and facility managers are lucky enough when they start looking for watershapers to have friends or colleagues who can refer them to suitable firms. But more often these consumers are on their own — and most start their hunt by searching on the Internet, where finding individual watershapers is a hit-and-miss process. WPN takes frustration out of the quest by offering a common, neutral web resource filled with possibilities.

The Network is working just the way we’d hoped: Time to click aboard?

2016/8.2, August 24 — Dream Clients, Aquaponic Options, San Francisco Treat and more

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

August 24, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Shared Vision

Faced with a small site but encouraged by clients who gladly accepted his initial design proposal as presented, Tanr Ross applied all of his skills in creating a backyard environment that combines great entertainment spaces with family fun — no change orders required! [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Think Food

Pond professionals have a unique opportunity to put food on their clients’ tables, writes James Rakocy. All it takes is opening up the design process to a discipline called ‘aquaponics,’ which puts fish to work in encouraging the growth of a range of water-loving edible plants. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Communing with Ruth

For a time, Ruth Asawa’s ‘San Francisco Fountain’ was at risk of demolition. But as Jim McCloskey reports, it’s intricately sculpted basin has been saved from the wrecking ball and is well worth a lengthy, wide-eyed visit the next time you visit the City by the Bay. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Safe Havens

While focusing on naturalistic watershapes and finely crafted garden spaces, northern California’s Rick Driemeyer has developed an unusual specialty in creating environments that are safe and nurturing for a variety of animal species. This wrinkle, he says, allows him to explore his passion for nature, but it also informs his plant choices, determines the configurations of his watershapes and necessitates unusually close interaction with clients.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in July 2009, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

French Drains the Right Way

What happens when French drains are installed improperly? It’s not good, observes Scott Cohen, with consequences that can range from the cosmetic to the structural. That’s more than enough reason to get it right using the simple, effective approach outlined here. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Rockin’ in Rio

As has been true as long as he can remember, writes Jim McCloskey, coverage of the recent Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro riveted his attention — all the more so because of how many of the best stories had to do with what was happening in Rio’s aquatic venues. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Olympics Wrap-Up Dept.: Video recalls a time when synchronized swimming wasn’t what it is today. [more]

Looking in on a beautiful pursuit’s humble beginnings.

Piling It On Dept.: Back in the ’80s, synchronized swimming was the butt of an inspired SNL skit. [more]

Given the primitive item above, the mockery was justified.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Taking Care

Back in July/August 2011, Brian Van Bower used his Aqua Culture column to address an important commitment he thought all watershapers needed to make for their clients — and themselves. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Custom Molded Products Offers Flush-Fitting LEDs

Custom Molded Products (Tyrone, GA) now has a flush-fitting model of its Brilliant Wonders LED lights for nicheless installation in concrete pools. Available in white or clear models, the flangeless, easy-to-install, 1.5-inch units create seamless, minimalist looks and are ideal for illuminating entire watershapes as well as steps, swim-outs and spillways. For details, click here.

Aquamatic Releases ArtPoolCover Catalog

Aquamatic Cover Systems (Gilroy, CA) has mounted a catalog showing pool-cover designs available through its partnership with ArtPoolCover, a specialist in vinyl imprinting. The 21-page, full-color digital catalog features animal skins, flags, cars, floral designs, leaves, textiles and numerous playful options. Custom images can be created as well. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Helping Consumers
Begin Their Quests

When homeowners or facility managers start looking for watershapers to help them realize their ambitions and dreams, where do they start? Some are fortunate enough to have business contacts or friends who can refer them to reliable professionals. But these days, many start their searching on the Internet — a great but indiscriminate resource filled with blind alleys, dead ends and sometimes unreliable information.

That’s where the WaterShapes Professional Network comes in: By offering a credible, unified web presence in which numerous watershapers are able to convey uniformly formatted, comparable information in an easily navigated template, WPN gives consumers initial access to the marketplace in an easygoing environment that guides them comfortably and confidently through the earliest stages of a significant purchasing decision.

The Network is working just the way we’d hoped: Time to click aboard?

2016/8.1, August 10 — Turf Perimeters, Faraway Fountains, Pond Q & A and more

THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS

August 10, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Edged in Green

A client’s request for a turf edge to go along with his perimeter-overflow pool confronted Brian Van Bower with an unusual challenge — and led to a solution that serves as the crowning touch for a project filled with watershapes from one side of the property to the other. [more]

POND Q & A

Back to Basics

Introducing a new video Q & A series, Eric Triplett tells the story behind these brief discussions — and opens a dialogue with pond owners (and other professionals) who hunger for support and insights into the intricacies of ponds, pond technology and pond dynamics. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

An Exotic Oasis

Working far from his U.S. home base is nothing new for Josh Martin. But in the case of the Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, the scale of the project — combined with the large number of watershapes and their abundance of precision details — kept things interesting, one feature after another. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Eastern Eclectic

More than five years in the making, the project profiled here pushed the landscape architects and watershapers at Root Design Co. of Austin, Texas, to explore the limits of their creativity. The result, says Ben Dozier, is a complex set of garden rooms that draw on classic French and Asian styles as well as extensive plantings and numerous sculptures, garden ornaments and fine hardscape treatments. And then, of course, there’s the water.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in May 2008, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Helping Habitats

When a watershape’s purpose is to house and nurture rescued marine animals, writes Mike Fowler, there’s an extreme need for top-flight water quality. Here, he describes a facility in Clearwater, Fla., where you can see these creatures being nursed back to health. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Milestone Time

The publication of the 150th WaterShapes digital newsletter caught Jim McCloskey a little off guard last month — an oversight he attributes to a thoroughly overbooked summer and the rhythms that develop when time flies and you’re having a bit too much fun. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

When in Austria Dept.: Do what the locals do and take a refreshing bath in a tank or pool filled with beer. [more]

They say there are health benefits, but who really cares?

Cat’s Best Friend Dept.: Wary feline hitches a ride as an unusually patient pooch swims around a pool. [more]

You’d expect to see something like this in a beer pool.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Smart Steps

In his Details column from August 2006, David Tisherman discussed a feature that, he claimed, most watershapers wrongly and ill-advisedly treat as an afterthought. Click here to see what had him all fired up.

THE SHOPPING CART

Aquascape Introduces New Line of Skimmer/Filters

Aquascape (St. Charles, IL) now offers the Signature Series of skimmer/filters in three models for ponds with surface areas from 200 to 1,000 square feet. Designed to combat water quality problems and reduce maintenance by removing debris before it sinks to the bottom of the pond, the units also extend pump life and make pump access easier. For details, click here.

Viron CL Cartridge Filters from AstralPool

AstralPool (Jacksonville, FL) manufactures the Viron CL Cartridge Filter. Designed for use in residential pools, the low-maintenance units are made of non-corroding materials and feature high-capacity, antimicrobial Microban filter elements that require only annual cleaning in most applications — a safe, healthy approach that saves both time and water. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

The Strength
of the Many

Watershapers have an uncanny ability to produce beautiful work — and a real problem when it comes to calling their skills and talents to the attention of homeowners and others who are interested in making water part of their daily lives.

That’s where the WaterShapes Professional Network comes in: By building a collective web presence in which dozens and, eventually, hundreds of sites participate as an interlinked colossus, it involves watershapers in a group entity large enough that the search engines can’t overlook it. So if it’s a strong (or stronger) web presence you’re after, check it out.

The Network is working just the way we’d hoped: Time to click aboard?