2019/7.1, July 10 — WaterShapes: Looking Back, Moving Forward and more

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

July 10, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE/October 2008

Resounding Renewal

Set in an urban district in Los Angeles, the Echo Park Deep Pool needed help. Working with the project architect,William N. Rowleyengineered and oversaw much of the restoration and left local residents with a facility that enables them to enjoy all the benefits of aquatic recreation.[more]

FEATURE ARTICLE/June 2009

Beginnings

Water has to come fromsomewherein a stream system — and that, writesAnthony Archer Wills, is where many falter with obviously contrived injection points. Here, he discusses techniques for making these water sources seem as though they’ve been shaped by nature itself.[more]

FEATURE ARTICLE/October 2002

Splashes of Color

Of all his projects, saysDavid Tisherman, he can’t easily think of another that rivals this one with respect to balance and harmony. The keys here are color and energy, with one flowing irresistibly from the other in a reinvigorated backyard that was once drab, crowded and uninteresting.[more]

ESSENTIAL/April 2005

A Crowning Achievement

The Crown Fountain in Chicago’s Millennium Park is an ingenious fusion of artistic vision and high-tech water effects in which sculptor Juame Plensa’ s creative concepts were brought to life by an interdisciplinary team that included the waterfeature designers at Crystal Fountains. Here,Larry O’Hearndescribes how the firm met the challenge and helped give Chicago’s residents a defining landmark in glass, light, water and bright faces.

This article, originally published inWaterShapesin April 2005, has been digitized for all readers. Clickhereto see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE/October 1999

Images in Time

From early urban settlements to modern architectural settings, watershapes have played both functional and decorative roles in expressing social values. Here,Mark Holdenfollows that historical path beginning in ancient Greece and ending up in modern Las Vegas. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

A Bumpy Road

A recurrence of back spasms resulting from an ill-considered bout with an old metal post has sidelinedJim McCloskeyfor a couple weeks — a disruption that will see you treated here to second looks at some amazing articles from theWaterShapesmagazine archives. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Laps of Luxury Dept.: Now just about anyone can swim in the fabulous Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle.

[more]

It’ll cost a bundle to get a ticket, but what an experience!

Well-Equipped Dept.:Site previews pool floats coming to stores near you for the 2019 lounging season. [more]

Some are odd, but I like the avocado with the beach-ball pit.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC/September 2003

Proportional Response

Watershape designs can easily get out of hand, wroteBrian Van Bowerback in September 2003. But he hoped through this column to persuade watershapers to step back and avoid getting carried away. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Blue Thumb Offers Pond-less Waterfall Kit

Blue Thumb(Saginaw, MI) assembles the Elite X-Large 40″ Cascading Falls Kit for pond-less waterfalls. The package includes a spillway box, a vault/reservoir, a rubber liner, a protective underlayment, a pump and all required plumbing and connections. There’s also an installation kit as well as a start-up kit to get water conditions under quick control. For details, clickhere.

GSky Offers Versa Wall XT Plant Systems

GSky Plant Systems(Delray Beach, FL) manufactures Versa Wall XT, a planted-wall system that uses standard one-gallon pots set in durable, UV-resistant, injection-molded trays that deliver water and fertilizer to the plants while holding them in position. The pots can be interchanged easily, allowing for inclusion of customized patterns and blends. For details, clickhere.

WPN UPDATE

Reaching for

Tomorrow

Manywatershapers have, through the years, invested heavily in building their own beautiful web sites, then wondered why prospective clients haven’t been beating paths to their doors. The hold-up? It’s a simple fact that building a strong web presence as a stand-alone site is a tough row to hoe — and that’s precisely why we started theWaterShapes Professional Network.

By building a collective presence in which dozens and, eventually, hundreds of sites participate as an interlinked colossus,WPNbecomes a group entity the search engines can’t overlook. So if it’s a strong (or stronger) web presence you’re after, check it out..

TheNetworkis working just the way we’d hoped: Time toclickaboard?

2019/6.2, June 19 — Botanical Bravura, Inventing an Illusion, Stylish Steps and more

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

June 19, 2019 www.watershapes.com

GARDEN ENCHANTMENT

Constrained Expanse

Wrapping up a three-part series on his water-rich botanical gardens,Raymond Junglesnotes that these institutions areoften narrowly focused while wanting to be as inclusive as possible. It’s aduality that kept him busy in Miami Beach as he tried to fit all he could into a compact space.[more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Floating Stones

Using a concept based on no more than a photograph he’d once spotted online,Jerry Romanotraversed uncharted territory to reverse-engineer the ‘mystery fountain’ that now serves as his company’s calling card along a heavily wooded stretch of New Jersey road. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Stepping in Style

A quick trip to downtown Los Angeles carriedJim McCloskeyon his umpteenth visit to the wonderful waterfeature that cascades down the center of the Bunker Hill Steps. It’s the work of Lawrence Halprin — well worth a stop if you don’t mind climbing a few dozen stairs![more]

ESSENTIAL

A Hit on the High Seas

One of the most unusual watershape systems ever built, the AquaTheater on the ‘Oasis of the Seas’ was the first theatrical waterfeature ever installed on a cruise ship. In this special two-in-one article, Fluidity’sJim GarlandandTom Yankelitisbegin with a description of the ideas and the design process that led to creation of this shipboard super-fountain, then Crystal Fountains’Ritesh Khetiadiscusses the engineering and systems-integration solutions that make it all work.

This article, originally published inWaterShapesin November 2010, has been digitized for all readers. Clickhereto see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Containing Glare

Glare is the bane of any lighting installer, notesMike Gambino. But there’s little to fear if you’re familiar with the range of products and accessories he describes here in a detailed discussion of techniques he uses to keep garden visitors happily squint-free after the sun goes down.[more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

A Day to Swim

Out of the blue a week ago,Jim McCloskeyreceived an email from Dave Penton declaring June 21 of this year as the first-ever International Swim Day. It was short notice, of course, but in the Internet Age, just about anything is possible if enough of us decide to get involved.[more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Oh, Really? Dept.: Architect plans a 360-degree acrylic-wall pool for entire top floor of a London high-rise.

[more]

Sure, it’ll be amazing, but does it make any sense at all?

More, Please Dept.:New York pool invites artists to paint its decks to greet the arrival of each new summer.[more]

It’s a highly portable idea. Why not get one going nearby?

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Solid Foundations

Back in June 1999,Brian Van Bowerused his Aqua Culture column to share his personal and professional insights into an Asian philosophy that helps him in influencing people and gaining results. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Air-O-Lator Debuts Nu-Wave Fountain

Air-O-Lator(Grandview, MO) has added the Nu-Wave decorative floating fountain system to its product line. Designed for applications in which electrical power entering the water is prohibited or undesired, the device’s transfer pump pulls water out of the pond to dry land before pushing it back to the fountain and a variety of available spray nozzles. For details, clickhere.

Wooden Diving Boards by Mikel Tube

Mikel Tube Collection(Opwijk, Belgium) handcrafts the Revelation 1 wooden diving board. Made from Ipé and featuring anti-slip slots at the end of the board, this model is 96 inches long, 17 inches wide and ranges from one to three inches in thickness. Boards can be prepared to account for a diver’s weight and come in light, medium and dark shades. For details, clickhere.

WPN UPDATE

Another Tool

in the Box

Watershapers have an amazing ability to produce spectacular work — but oftentimes 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 theWaterShapes Professional Networkcomes in:By building a collective web presence in which dozens and, ultimately, 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.

TheNetworkis working just the way we’d hoped: Time toclickaboard?

2019/6.1, June 5 — One Project, Three Perspectives and more

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

June 5, 2019 www.watershapes.com

COLLABORATIVE ART, I

Refined Parameters

The stakes for a watershape designer are pretty high when the client is a noted architect, observesShane LeBlanc— particularly whenyou’re working 3,000 miles from your home base and need to find professionals capable of bringing your bold, ambitious ideas to life.[more]

COLLABORATIVE ART, II

Embracing a Vision

Building high-end watershapes to other professionals’ specifications givesDave Pentonthe opportunity to work on a wide range of great projects — and occasionally, as in the one covered here, the chance to do so in the company of good friends and respected colleagues. [more]

COLLABORATIVE ART, III

Swiss Precision

Working with unusually large material is a distinct technical challenge in tile application, reportsJimmy Reed. As always, planning and surface preparation are crucial, but the keys in this specific project were patience, skill and a raw determination to stick to a simple, elegant grid. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Free and Clear

Along with an increasing demand for large, naturalistic watershapes in both residential and commercial settings has come an unprecedented desire for exceptional water quality in those bodies of water, saysGeorge Forni, a specialist in the design, construction and maintenance of lakes, ponds and streams. Here, using several of his projects in northern California as examples, he discusses just what it takes to meet both the demand and the desire.

This article, originally published inWaterShapesin January 2004, has been digitized for all readers. Clickhereto see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

A Classic Restored

Built in the 1930s and covering nearly half an acre, the pool at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Fla., is one of the country’s oldest, largest and most historic swimming pools. Restoring it on a short timeline was no easy task, notesSteve Lucas, but now it’s ready for you to visit.[more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Collaborative Artists

In this very special edition of the WaterShapes newsletter, writesJim McCloskey, you’ll find a trio of articles offering perspectives on a single project as told by three top-flight watershapers. It’s a summertime treat — and dynamic testimony to the power of artful teamwork. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Incredible Oops Dept.: A fountain near Walt Disney World is rushing to correct a glaring spelling error.

[more]

You’d think this sort of typo would be impossible here.

Quelle Concept! Dept.:Architectfloats the idea of adding a pool in the restoration of a fire-ravaged cathedral.[more]

It’ll never happen, of course, but the image is breathtaking.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Now You See It

Inspiration is where you find it — even when it comes to drain covers, wroteDavid Tishermanin June 2004, which is why he’s so focused on getting out and seeing what others have done with his own eyes. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Hayward Launches the TriVac 700 Cleaner

Hayward Pool Products(Elizabeth, NJ) has introduced the TriVac 700 pressure-side pool cleaner. Designed to skim debris from the surface of the water as well as thoroughly vacuum the pool floors, walls and coves, the device has a wide suction inlet, a large debris bag, a jet-propelled drive and protective wheels for gentle treatment of pool surfaces. For details, clickhere.

CCEI Offers Transformer for Pool Lights

CCEI USA(Inglewood, CA) manufactures 12-14 volt Safety AC Transformer designed specifically to power pool and spa lights. The units allow for direct connection of underwater fixtures, has two compartments to maintain the separation of primary and secondary connections and includes a circuit breaker to protect against overloads. For details, clickhere.

WPN UPDATE

Gaining Ground

with Consumers

These days, the Internet is the information resource of choice for those looking for a huge array of goods and services. But it’s tough for an individual business to capture eyes amid the bewildering quantity of options facing consumers as they try to find ways to make something like a pool, pond or fountain part of their home or working lives.

That’s why we started theWaterShapes Professional Network— a portal consumers are using to get basic information about pool. pond and fountain designers and builders before they start making direct phone calls to arrange for site visits and bids. It’s a new way of making initial contacts and getting in the game!

TheNetworkis working just the way we’d hoped: Time toclickaboard?

2019/5.2, May 15 — Vision Lessons, Gravel Appreciation, D.C. Masterpiece and more

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

May 15, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Adopted Vision

Building a project to another designer’s plan can be awkward when you notice flaws you might have helped address. In this case, notesTanr Ross, the results were truly spectacular — but assessing the ‘deficiencies’ taught him valuable lessons he’ll always carry with him. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Gravel’s Virtues

Puzzled by its bad reputation among some of his clients,Mike Gannonbegan doing research on gravel. He’d always believed in its value, he says, but found a rich history that now aids in him on occasions when he needs to talk his clients through their moments of doubt. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

White House Adjacent

If you’re willing to step just a few long blocks beyond the usual tourist attractions on your next visit to Washington, D.C., writesJim McCloskey, you can see a grand waterfeature at a deeply historic but little-known park — all within a short distance of the Capitol Mall. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Natural Intuitions

The thing that makes a painting great isn’t the pigment mixed on the palette or the brush used to apply it. Those are merely tools, observes landscaperJim Lampl, who finds art and beauty in the way the strokes are laid on the canvas. The same holds true for watershapes, he says: The art and beauty aren’t in the stones or plantings, but in the way all of the components and materials are composed on site.

This article, originally published inWaterShapesin October 2000, has been digitized for all readers. Clickhereto see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Illuminating Footsteps

It’s rare, writesMike Gambino, but some homeowners will decide to omit path and step lighting from their backyards. That’s short-sighted for a whole list of reasons he covers here in this discussion of ways to make outdoor spaces much more welcoming once the sun goes down. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

The Client Experience

The start of a big construction project is a major event for any homeowner, even when it’sJim McCloskeyand he’s already familiar with the processes, knows what’s coming next and can appreciate what he’s seen so far in the crews that have invaded his personal space. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Pop-Up Cascade Dept.: Waterfalls are taking their place in the realm of grand-scale architectural ornaments.

[more]

From airports to city centers, see how they set the scene.

Lazy Days Dept.:PoolCandy offers motorized floats that take all the effort out of moving around a pool.[more]

No more kicking, paddling or pushing off walls? Sweet!

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Gearing Up

It’s too late to wait until the busy season starts to take stock of tools and equipment and get them ready to go. AsBruce Zaretskywrote back in May 2009, an earlier, more systematic approach is required. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Outdoor Fountains from Ulrich Pakker

Ulrich Pakker Studios(Seattle, WA) makes Drunken Lotus fountains for commercial and residential applications. Featuring natural shapes, movement and lighting, the design sends clear streams of water arcing through the air and includes a base/reservoir that can be buried or surface-mounted and has a float-level valve to keep the pump from running dry. For details, clickhere.

TigerDeck Offers Hardwood Decking

TigerDeck(Portland, OR) manufactures strong, durable decking systems made with Tigerwood. Available in a variety of deck-board sizes, the material naturally resists rot and insect damage and comes from sustainable forests ranging from southern Mexico to Argentina. It’s also compatible with the company’s hidden-fastening system. For details, clickhere.

WPN UPDATE

All Set

for 2019?

No marketing or promotional plan you have for 2019 (and beyond) will be complete without putting theWaterShapes Professional Networkto work on your company’s behalf. You produce spectacular projects;WPNis 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 thesearch engines can’t overlook. So if it’s a strong (or stronger) web presence you’re after, check it out!

TheNetworkis working just the way we’d hoped: Time toclickaboard?

2019/5.1, May 1 — Instructive Waters, Natural Upgrade, Client Dynamics and more

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

May 1, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Educational Flows

The opportunity to work on a project where teaching is the objective is hard to resist, notesEd Beaulieu. But making it happen in ways that entertain while they educate is quite a feat when the underlying messages are as complex and significant as they are at Reed Street Yards.[more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Planting a Pool

Originally published in January 2011, this article covered an unusual New Jersey project in whichJames Robynbuilt a pool that was meant to seem like a pond — and sets the stage for asecondarticle (coming next time) about what it took to revise it as a true ‘natural swimming pool.’ [more]

DESIGN DYNAMICS

The Show Begins

In the second part of his series on the design process,Kurt Kraisingertakes us through the initial stages — client contact, site visits, design meetings and more — as the pieces of the puzzle scattered across Part 1 begin to coalesce into a coherent, workable design scheme.[more]

ESSENTIAL

Therapy Power

For centuries, human beings have turned to immersion and exercise in water as a means of healing injuries and illnesses and of promoting both physical and mental health. Researchers have investigated the hows and whys of these phenomena for years, and the benefits seem to be even more remarkable than originally thought. There’s still much to learn,writesEric Herman,but there’s already more than enough good news for watershapers to share with motivated clients.

This article, originally published inWaterShapesin December 2006, has been digitized for all readers. Clickhereto see the full text and images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Community in Action

The hamlet of Wyandanch, N.Y., needed something special to set itself on a new path. AsJoseph Serpereports, that ‘something’ is a spray park you should see when you travel to Long Island: Its wilderness-themed space is filled with interactive waterfeatures and two remarkable trees.[more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

The Swimming’s Fine

Wrapping up comments he began offering in March on a book about the history of swimming,Jim McCloskeymarvels at its wealth of information and praises the author’s passion for his subject while noting a few spots where some restraint might’ve made a good book even better.[more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Silly Stuff Dept.:A pair of musicians filled this pool with cellos to probe issues of immediate public interest.

[more]

No playable instruments were injured to make it happen.

More Silly Stuff Dept.:French designers set up grand (but weird) waterfeatures on Paris’s Champs-Elysées. [more]

Costly crystalswereharmed in creating these un-fountains.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Preserving History

Neighbors can get touchy about what’s happening with a nearby project, wroteStephanie Rosein her column of May 2004. Clickhereto read a story about how she navigated one unusually intense incident.

THE SHOPPING CART

Upgraded Spa Air Blowers from Hayward

Hayward Pool Products(Elizabeth, NJ) has launched an improved spa blower. Designed to deliver quiet performance and powerful streams of soothing bubbles, the units install easily and have durable motors with thermal switches and replaceable brushes for extended life. There’s also a full-spring check valve to prevent water from reaching the motor. For details, clickhere.

Fountain People Updates Fountain-in-a-Can

Fountain People(San Marcos, TX) has added new features to its Fountain-in-a-Can series. The FIAC-1000 features a flush-mount, multi-pattern spray system; a 360-degree, low-voltage LED light fixture; an internal throttling valve; and an ADA-compliant grate — all designed for use with plaza-style waterfeatures as well as interactive splash pads. For details, clickhere.

WPN UPDATE

Collective

Passion

Those of 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 consumers and prospective clients who might be interested in having you help them make water part of their daily lives.

That’s where theWaterShapes Professional Networkcan help: We’vebuilt a web presence in which dozens of designers and builders of watershapes of all types participate as an Internet colossus — a grouped 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.

TheNetworkis working just the way we’d hoped: Time toclickaboard?

2019/4.2, April 17 — Gem State Fountain, Pond Assistance, San Diego Miscue and more

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

April 17, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Northern Exposure

Building an elaborate, choreographed fountain in a public place is always a technical and logistical challenge. But in this case, noteJ. Wickham ZimmermanandChris Roy, the stakes were significantly raised by the developer’s bold vision as well as the project’s geographic location.[more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Positive Agitation

Jets and sprays are welcome additions to ponds because they look great. But if the designer or installer follows a few key guidelines outlined here byRoy Watkins,the list of benefits will expand to include an overall improvement in water quality and a healthier environment for fish. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Demodeling

A recent visit to San Diego tookJim McCloskeyback to a fountain he’d seen and admired as a youngster. The old waterfeature is still there, he says, but the surrounding plaza was so different and visually scattered that the experience turned from nostalgia to sadness.[more]

ESSENTIAL

Space Savers

WatershaperMichael Nantzhas designed and installed projects across a wide range of styles, budgets and overall levels of complexity. Among the most challenging and ultimately satisfying of all those designs, he says, are those that unfold in the yards of clients who want to make significant personal statements — but in very small spaces. Here, we take a look at two such projects, both of which prompted him to summon up all of his creativity.

This article, originally published inWaterShapesin May 2006, has been digitized for all readers. Clickhereto see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Designing for Depth

When it comes to lighting landscapes, observesMike Gambino, it’s important to get trees involved because their sizes, shapes and visual textures are so engaging. And all it takes to make it work, he suggests, is putting two fundamental lighting approaches to good use.[more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Beyond Irritating

Truth be told,Jim McCloskeyhas always had a hard time staying quiet when confronted by sloppy reasoning. In this case, he’s become unusually peeved by the silly set of arguments offered in an article that advises homeowners to rip out their swimming pools, the sooner the better. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Spectacular Parade Dept.:An architecture magazine highlights the aquatic delights of 25 great hotels.

[more]

But really, it’s much more about the settings than the pools!

DIY Madness Dept.:Working by hand, a man digs a pool and home someplace in the middle of nowhere. [more]

I just have to ask: Where do theyfindthese people?

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Operating on a Higher Level

Working with upper-echelon clients takes a special level of preparation and skill, wroteBrian Van Bowerback in 2004. To uncover one key factor that he says is more important than all the rest, start by clickinghere.

THE SHOPPING CART

Reflecting Pools from Bradford Products

Bradford Products(Leland, NC) makes WaterFX Reflecting Pools for both residential and commercial applications. Designed to bring a measure of peace and tranquility to any indoor or outdoor environment, the shallow stainless steel vessels can be customized to any desired size or shape and are available with tile finishes as well as lighting systems. For details, clickhere.

Mariner Underwater LEDs from Lightcraft

Lightcraft Outdoor(Chatsworth, CA) offers Mariner underwater lighting fixtures. Made of heavy cast brass, the units have removable stands for lower-profile installation and come with 25 feet of underwater-rated cable and field-replaceable, low-voltage LEDs. They also come with clear lenses, project out to 25 feet and can be used down to six feet deep. For details, clickhere.

WPN UPDATE

Ready for

the 2019 Season?

No marketing or promotional plan you have for 2019 (and beyond) will be complete without putting theWaterShapes Professional Networkto work on your company’s behalf. You produce spectacular projects;WPNis 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 thesearch engines can’t overlook. So if it’s a strong (or stronger) web presence you’re after, check it out.

TheNetworkis working just the way we’d hoped: Time toclickaboard?

2019/4.1, April 3 — Artfully Public, Positive Engagement, Sunken Creativity and more

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

April 3, 2019 www.watershapes.com

GARDEN ENCHANTMENT

Exploring Possibilities

If his work on botanical gardens has taught him anything, saysRaymond Jungles, it’s that it helps to be both flexible and persistent — and, as he relates in his second article on the subject, mindful of the fact that these places arebusinessesand have needs that must be met. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Building a Base

Long known for his advocacy of the power of positive thinking,Brian Van Bowerexplains why he’s also done all he can as a watershaper to get involved, stay involved and become part of social communities that have helped him advance his professional agenda for decades.[more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Creative Spirits

The project may have started with a miscommunication, notesDave Garton, but that amusing incident never stood in the way of his creating a beautiful sunken pond — or of campaigning to ease neighbors’ fears about a significant (but temporary) disruption of their bucolic lives.[more]

ESSENTIAL

Poetry in Stone

With his rugged works of shaped water and stone, Colorado-based sculptorRichard Hansenhas spent a career exploring what he calls ‘poetic dialogues’ between nature and humanity, permanence and ephemera, distance and intimacy. But his interest in the materials he uses goes well beyond such philosophical notions: He’s a hands-on artisan who particularly enjoys, he says, the unique sound that stone makes when it splits.

This article, originally published inWaterShapesin May 2003, has been digitized for all readers. Clickhereto see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

A Clear, Clean Public Service

The Cross Valley Water District’s office in Clearview, Wash., stands as a prime example, writesSandra Hasegawa Ingalls, of how a public facility can send messages to the communityabout good environmental stewardship. It’s well worth a quick stop on your next Northwestern trek.[more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Infinite Potential

An article with photographs of beautiful pools isn’t a rare commodity, writesJim McCloskey. But in this case, reviewing the images triggered a flood of thoughts on global watershaping and how fast ideas and approaches have been moving through the past 30-odd years. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Trend-Tracking Dept.:A rash of recent buildings have integrated waterfalls into their design packages.

[more]

Fallingwater doesn’t belong here, but the rest? Truly cool!

Weird Concepts Dept.:Audi puts a pair of autos in a pool to perform a ‘synchronized swimming’ routine.[more]

It’s catchy, but it’d work better if the cars had arms and legs.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Advancing Technology

WhenMark Holdenwrote about the importance of being open to new ideas and technologies back in April 2009, he didn’t mince any words — as you’ll see in reviewing this quick recap of his original text.[more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Speck Introduces Normblock Multi Pumps

Speck Pumps(Jacksonville, FL) now offers the Normblock Multi line of pumps specifically for commercial pools, fountains and waterparks with elevated salt concentrations. Available in 7.5-, 10-, 15- and 20-horsepower models, the energy-efficient, quiet-running units have housings and impellers made of high-performance plastic for corrosion resistance. For details, clickhereand scroll down.

MistAmerica Offers MiniCool Systems

MistAmerica(Scottsdale, AZ) has released MiniCool, an outdoor cooling system for residential applications. Designed to replace common ceiling fans as well as inefficient line-mist systems, the cooling unit generates and disperses mist via a fan-like device placed in the center of a patio space rather than through misting lines strung around its perimeter. For details, clickhere.

WPN UPDATE

Collective

Prowess

Ifyou design and/or build pools, spas, fountains, ponds, streams, waterfalls or other forms of contained, controlled water, you have a proven ability to create projects of great beauty. But how do you spread the word about your skills and talents to those who might want you to help them make water part of their daily lives?

TheWaterShapes Professional Networkcan help you there. We’vebuilt a web site where dozens of designers and builders of watershapes of all types participate as an Internet collective — a grouped entity large enough and interrelated in ways that make search engines treat all participants 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.

TheNetworkis working just the way we’d hoped: Time toclickaboard?

2019/3.2, March 20 — A Space Transformed, Deck Details, Surreal Boldness and more

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

March 20, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Artful Opportunities

The home sits on the edge of a lovely golf course, but it’s backyard definitely needed help. Completely reimagining the space,Juliet Woodinserted a pool, a spa, a cabana, a sweeping staircase and anamazingwater wall to create a fully integrated resource for outdoor family fun.[more]

WHAT IS IT?

#33: Flagstone Decking

Few decking materials are more welcome around swimming pools and spas than large flagstones. But this appeal, writesMike Farley, comes from much more than the simple fact that the big slabs look fantastic when they’re thoughtfully (and skillfully) arrayed near water.[more]

TRAVELOGUE

Strangely Sublime

This odd, twisting fountain by a noted Surrealist artist was built several years afterJim McCloskey‘s one brief visit to Switzerland. But it’s enough to incline him to add Bern to the list of places he’d like to see the next time the travel bug bites and sends him on his way back to Europe.[more]

ESSENTIAL

Graceful Cascades

Taking great pride in crafting watershapes that are as natural in appearance as possible, pond/stream specialistSteve Sandalishas developed a systematic approach that always guides him in the right directions. A case in point is the project discussed here, in which a thousand tons of stone, hundreds of feet of liner and countless plants came together to create a setting so amazingly romantic that its owner changed his mind about how to put it to use.

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

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Night Eyes

In essence, saysMike Gambino, landscape lighting is about visualizing the way a space will look when the sun goes down. He shows what that means in practical terms through a project in which he brought nighttime drama to a home and its pool, fountain and garden spaces. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Swimming’s Place

A book about the history of swimming caughtJim McCloskey‘s eye recently, fascinating him with tales reaching from primordial seas and the dawn of civilization to more recent manifestations of what the author clearly sees as an unsurpassed form of human endeavor. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Taking a Stand Dept.:UK synchronized swimmers do their best to perform in a pool filled with plastic debris.

[more]

It’s a deft statement about the plight of our polluted oceans.

On the Lighter Side Dept.:Kentucky Fried Chicken turns to crowdfunding to create KFC-themed hot tubs. [more]

Nice publicity stunt, Colonel. Just get the temperature right!

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Speaking the Language

Back in 2009,Dave Petersonwas a strong, early advocate for watershaping’s involvement with a key set of standards. Click here to see what he was after — and just how far the industry has come.[more]

THE SHOPPING CART

RenoSys Offers Stainless Steel Gutter Systems

RenoSys(Indianapolis, IN) has added a stainless-steel version to its DuraTech line of gutters for commercial and institutional pools. Designed for affordable reliability, the new units combine gutter and plumbing in a trough that includes pressurized water returns and inlets, thereby eliminating buried pipes that can break in freeze/thaw conditions. For details, clickhere.

Intermatic Debuts ComboConnect J-Boxes

Intermatic(Spring Grove, IL) produces the ComboConnect Junction Box/Transformer. The compact, hybrid unit provides two line-voltage and five low-voltage connections for underwater and dry pool, spa and landscape-lighting applications, all in the same housing. Designed for tight spaces, the units include a 100-watt low-voltage transformer. For details, clickhere.

WPN UPDATE

Building

Step by Step

TheWaterShapes Professional Networkis 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,WPNgives 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.WPNtakes frustration out of the quest by offering a common, neutral web resource filled with possibilities.

TheNetworkis working just the way we’d hoped: Time toclickaboard?

2019/3.1, March 6 — Hillside Prowess, Fish Addition, Design Components and more

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

March 6, 2019 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

A Slice of Paradise

It was a challenging site for a long pool that would overflow on all four sides. But with the right foundation and a well-engineered shell, writesGrant Smith, the project came together beautifully — although it apparently wasn’t enough to get his clients to stick around to enjoy the view![more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Fishy Affairs

There comes a time with most ponds when the owners will want to add fish to supplement the original population or replace pets lost to age or predators. It’s a perilous step, notesMike Gannon, which is why he prepares his clients for the occasion early on with words of caution. [more]

DESIGN DYNAMICS

Organizing Chaos

Every watershaping projectstarts with a big box of possibilities the designer digs through in selecting features that meet the needs of the site, the clients and the budget.KurtKraisingerwill examine this early digging to start a brand-new series on how designs come together.[more]

ESSENTIAL

Island Life

Searching for an effective and natural way to improve water quality in both man-made and natural bodies of water, inventorBruce Kaniaturned to the experiences of a childhood spent exploring and fishing in the waters of the upper Midwest. Inspired by the diversity and sheer wildness of the natural, floating islands that can occur there, he’s developed a system that not only enhances water quality but also provides a haven for wildlife.

This article, originally published inWaterShapesin April 2005, has been digitized for all readers. Clickhereto see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Water Everywhere

Italy’s Villa d’Este has long inspired designers — and everyone else who comes to visit.Mark Holdenhas had a career-long interest in the estate and takes this opportunity to share his love of its features while encouraging more watershapers to go and see it for themselves. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Rallying to a Cause

A news story about a pair of community groups that are raising money to pay for restoration of an iconic Minneapolis fountain recently caughtJim McCloskey‘s eye — and leads him to discuss a hopeful trend toward public intervention when municipalities can’t seem to get the job done.[more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Wet-Weather Wonders Dept.:A downpour in Northern California crafts a spontaneous watershape.

[more]

This furious display is a bit scary — but also quite beautiful.

Maritime Silliness Dept.:New ‘super yacht’ comes with deluxe features — including a vanishing-edge pool. [more]

It’s a great idea for the showroom, but how will it do at sea?

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Powering the Press

Among all the things he did to build his business, wroteBrian Van Bowerin March 2004, one tactic stood out head and shoulders above the rest. Has anything has happened since then to alter the picture?[more]

THE SHOPPING CART

SelectaFlo D.E. Filter Valves from Hayward

Hayward Pool Products(Elizabeth, NJ) has released SelectaFlo Valves for use with diatomaceous-earth filters. Designed to provide up to 90-percent less head loss than multiport valves, the units feature trigger-action handles that makes it easy to select among four valve/filter functions with the company’s ProGrid and DEP 500 filters. For details, clickhere.

Oase Launches Air Injector for Ponds

Oase(Coronoa, CA) has introduced the AquaOxy Set 240, a quiet, energy-efficient air-injector pump that safely increases oxygen levels in ponds containing up to 2,113 gallons. The lightweight unit has two air outlets, a long hose for easy placement and weighted air stones to ensure a uniform, high-volume dissipation of oxygen into the water. For details, clickhere.

WPN UPDATE

The Art of

Persuasion

Those of 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 consumers and prospective clients who might be interested in having you help them make water part of their daily lives.

That’s where theWaterShapes Professional Networkcan help: We’vebuilt a web presence in which dozens of designers and builders of watershapes of all types participate as an Internet colossus — a grouped 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.

TheNetworkis working just the way we’d hoped: Time toclickaboard?

2019/2.2, February 20 — Botanical Beauty, Disaster Relief, Purposeful Travel and more

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

February 20, 2019 www.watershapes.com

BOTANIC ENCHANTMENT

Forging a Path

Designing and installing botanical gardens may be soul-satisfying, but it’s also a remarkable professional challenge. AsRaymond Jungleswrites in the first of three articles on the subject, these projects have multiple audiences, each of them bringingmassiveexpectations to the table.[more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Hard-Won Beauty

Called back to a pool he’d bid on unsuccessfully ten years earlier,William Drakeleyfound that the winning contractor had fallen short in several ways. It was now up to him to persuade an extremely reluctant client to start all over again, this time with a more suitable approach.[more]

TRAVELOGUE

The Family Plan

Contacted by a reader for advice on where to go on a family vacation if one of the goals was for her to see great watershapes,Jim McCloskeyrattled off a long list of U.S. cities — and then called her back later with a suggestion he thought might add special meaning to the trip.[more]

ESSENTIAL

The Architect Connection

As watershaping becomes an independent design discipline, says architectGreg Danskin, there’s increasing cause for watershapers to interact with and more fully understand what architects do and how they do it. Here, he offers his suggestions toward building that familiarity, starting by defining the nature of his profession and exploring the common ground upon which watershapers and architects operate.

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

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Seeing the Light

All too often, homeowners unaware of the benefits of quality landscape lighting will sidestep it to cut costs as a project nears its conclusion. That’s a tendencyMike Gambinocombats by continuously educating his clients about the illuminated joys they’ll find outside after dark. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Decisions, Decisions

The original plan to update his family’s aging pool and spa has given way to another project for now, reportsJim McCloskey. But even the sidelined process gave him a deeper understanding of what daunts homeowners as they pass through what he now calls ‘remodel creep.’[more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Preaching to the Saved Dept.:Physical therapists make the case for the curative power of being in water.

[more]

Their article self-promotes, but it hits all the high points.

Sinuous Shapes Dept.:Architect Roman Vlasov offers a fresh take on weaving a pool into its environment. [more]

It’s been a while since anything struck me as sooriginal.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Planting Pains

Back in 2009, Bruce Zaretsky wrote about the nature of landscape design and a trend that had him keenly concerned about the future. Do you think anything has happened over the past decade to alter his views? [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Guppy Submerged LED Fixtures from Lightcraft

Lightcraft Outdoor(Chatsworth, CA) makes the model H20-302B underwater LED lighting fixture. Known as the Guppy, the compact fixture — just an inch-and-three-quarters tall — is made with heavy cast brass and has a natural-bronze finish. It comes with a pebble tray, includes a 25-foot cable and projects 15 feet with a 180-degree beam angle. For details, clickhere.

S.R. Smith Introduces In-Pool Lounges

S.R. Smith(Canby, OR) manufactures the Destination Lounger for use in water depths of up to 12 inches. Lightweight yet strong, the lounge is meant for residential or commercial use and has a design that allows for easy filling of the base section with water and for easy emptying if it needs to be moved within the pool or removed for storage. For details, clickhere.

WPN UPDATE

Getting in

the Game

These days, the Internet is the information resource of choice for those on the hunt for a huge array of goods and services. But it’s tough for any individual business to capture eyes amid the bewildering quantity of options facing consumers as they surf the web and try to find ways to make something like water, for example, part of their home or working lives.

That’s why we started theWaterShapes Professional Network— a place consumers are using to get basic information about pool. pond and fountain designers and builders before they start making direct phone calls to arrange for site visits and bids. It’s a new way of making initial contacts and getting in the game.

TheNetworkis working just the way we’d hoped: Time toclickaboard?