2020 Editions (July-December) Archives - Page 2 of 2

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

July 22, 2020 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Patient Perfection

While true perfection is an elusive goal,Grant Smithbelieves in pursuing it by exceeding engineering and construction standards and paying attention to fine aesthetic details. And as he reports here, sometimes he ends up chasing it for clients who like to change their minds.[more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Shaq Pond

Installing a pond for basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal was a personal thrill, notesGreg Wittstock. But even if he and the all-star project team were a little bit starstruck, they stayed focused and approached the work as an expression of aquatic art at the highest level. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Pathways to Efficiency

Creating swimming pools that save on energy costs is a consuming passion forDouglas Cook. As he explains here, he achieves best results with combinations of energy-smart solutions — often including solar heating and power generation — that can lead to dramatic savings.[more]

ESSENTIAL

The Science of Lighting

When designed and installed properly, a landscape lighting system enables clients to enjoy their watershapes and landscapes well after the sun goes down. But achieving those satisfactory results, says lighting expertMike Gambino, requires an understanding not only of the aesthetics of lighting design, but also an appreciation of the technology behind the beauty and an ability to lay components out in ways that electrically balance the system.

This article, originally published inWaterShapesin February 2008, has been digitized for all readers. Clickhereto see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

SPATIAL CONNECTIONS

Refined Expressions

Water can be used in almost every setting to add interest, beauty and a sense of tranquility. But what that means in design terms changes in response to a setting’s needs and a client’s expectations, sayJanet RosenbergandGlenn Herman— and produces a spectrum of solutions.[more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

A Cautionary Note

A surge in pool sales is a beautiful thing, observesEric Herman. But with this groundswell of popularity, it’s more important than ever to educate homeowners — especially those with young children or grandchildren — to be mindful of the value of safety and drowning prevention. [more]

OPEN WATERS

Oasis on the Prairie

Welcome to Open Waters, a brand-new WaterShapes feature in which we will explore the variety and creativity of the wide world of water with a rotating roster of blogs, travelogues and other discussions of all things aquatic — including this entry about a Tulsa, Okla., landmark.[more]

WOLFPACK CORNER

New Talent

Comes Aboard

Watershapes University is pleased to welcome Brett Herman to the Wolfpack.

The talented son of WaterShapes Editor Eric Herman, he’ll be responsible for social media outreach and database management for Watershape University while also providing editorial and digital support for WaterShapes.com. To learn more about him, clickhere.

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Naturally Beautiful: A quick tour of some of America’s most stunning (and therapeutic) natural spaces. [more]

Be prepared for some additions to your bucket list!

Streaking Spiders:Asometimes unnerving visit with the prime water-surface athletes of the insect world.[more]

Impress clients with your knowledge of aquatic entomology.

THE SHOPPING CART

J&J Electronics Offers Nicheless Light Fixtures

J&J Electronics(Chino, CA) produces the ColorSplash VU RGB-W, a 1.5-inch, nicheless LED fixture for pool and spa applications. The light source features a variety of colors and can put on its own light shows to transform ordinary aquatic settings into custom, illuminated waterfeatures. The product also comes in a pure-white version. For details, clickhere.

Aquaview Makes Frameless Glass Fences

Aquaview Glass Fence & Railing Systems(New York, NY) offers a line of fully frameless glass railing systems. Providing crystal-clear views with a contemporary design that enhances all aquatic spaces, the systems are designed for strength and reliability even in high-wind zones and can be used to complete pool areas, balconies, decks and sea walls. For details, clickhere.

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

July 8, 2020 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Demise of the Water Hazard

Through the past 15 years, golf-course designs have embraced a distinctly minimalist approach. It’s a response, writesKen Alperstein, to the fact that the number of courses being built has shrunk dramatically — and that attitudes about water use are changing profoundly.[more]

POND INSIGHTS

A Perfect Coda

The conclusion of the pond installation process offers moments to create lasting client impressions. AsDave Gartonpoints in this final entry in his series on client relations, it’s a critical juncture where all of the physical work and management of expectations come together. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Rising High: Part 1

When you work high above the ground, you have to see things from different angles, say high-rise specialistsMarkandZachary Trapani. The rigors and complexity of working with elevated watershape installations requires careful investigation and problem solving at every turn.[more]

ESSENTIAL

A Classic Crescendo

For most of a four-year stretch, landscape architect/contractor/watershaperMark Holdendevoted much of his professional energy to the creation of magnificent settings for Cima del Mundo, a grand estate high in the hills of Montecito, Calif. In two previous articles, he wrote about the nuts and bolts of the multi-phase project. Here, he steps back and offers a pictorial celebration to mark its completion.

This article, originally published inWaterShapesin July 2002, has been digitized for all readers. Clickhereto see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

SPATIAL CONNECTIONS

Forms and Figures

Water and art have been near-constant companions for millennia, but that traditional pairing seems to be generating new enthusiasm, saysRandy Beard, with more and more property owners seeking to make unique statements by putting artwork on display in and around water. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Remembering an Icon

When industry legend Howard Arneson passed away in June at age 99, he left behind a legacy of innovation that fueled industry growth in the mid-20th Century. Here,Eric Hermanhonors Arneson’s contributions with the help of two industry leaders who knew him well. [more]

LIVING BLUE

Just a Simple Pool

When you live in the blistering heat of the desert, a pool rises above its common status as a luxury, transformed instead into an absolute necessity. As Eric Herman has recently rediscovered, that ‘upgrade’ can happen with even the simplest of pools because, ultimately, it’s thewaterthat delivers the benefits rather than the tile, plaster, equipment pad or coping. [more]

WOLFPACK CORNER

From the

Studio

Watershape University’s sequence of Wolfpack Webinar Wednesdays continues to provide useful and engaging information every Hump Day afternoon.

If you haven’t been able to sit in on these sessions, or missed some along the way, clickhereto learn more and catch up!

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Interior Magic:Artificial rock isn’t just for use outdoors, as this survey of indoor looks clearly reveals. [more]

A new decorative touch for pool houses and outbuildings?

Aquatic Architecture:These ten examples offer all comers a spectrum of dazzling design possibilities.[more]

Pushing the frontiers of architectural pool and pond design.

THE SHOPPING CART

Aquatica USA Provides Outdoor Showers

Aquatica USA(Miami, Fla.) has introduced Aquatica Gamma 515, a freestanding outdoor shower made of 316L stainless steel. Designed for cold-water rinsing, the unit features push-tap operation that delivers 20 to 25 seconds of cold water and then shuts off automatically. A hot-water mixing system is also available as an option. For details, clickhere.

Landscape Forms Makes Seating Systems

Landscape Forms(Kalamazoo, Mich.) has created the Link seating system – a line of modular outdoor furnishings intended to provide the convenience of an off-the-shelf product with the style of customized site furnishings. The wood slats allow for straight, mitered, arced or serpentine arrangements to suit the needs of almost any setting. For details, clickhere.