2017/11.1, November 1 — Design Audacity, Tile Mastery, Image Elevation and more

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

November 1, 2017 www.watershapes.com

LOUISIANA DREAMIN’, Part 1

Layering Experience

Given the opportunity to dream big on behalf of a willing client,Shane LeBlancdelivered a trio of watershapes that go far beyond the ordinary — including one with a 100-foot-long vanishing-edge wall that brings a slice of Las Vegas liveliness to a laid-back Louisiana riverfront. [more]

LOUISIANA DREAMIN’, Part 2

Edges with a Difference

Project after project, making incredible complexity seem routine is whatJimmy Reedand his tile installers are all about. That unwavering finesse is particularly on display in this sublime poolscape, with its tilting, undulating vanishing-edge wall and uniquely configured spillover spa. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

In Pursuit of Art

In 2008,William Drakeleywas at a crossroads and saw this big, uniquely challenging project as a way to separate himself from the crowd. lt was a bit more than he bargained for, but he persisted — and knows that making it all work changed the regional perception of his business. [more]

ESSENTIAL

One for the Sun

The beautiful pool complex seen here is among his crowning achievements, notes watershaperRandy Beard, representing as it does something of a harmonic convergence among great clients, amazing architecture, a beautiful setting and top-notch design and construction teams — all gathered on a challenging hillside lot. The outcome, he says, is a deceptively simple watershape tucked neatly into a sublime environment.

This article, originally published inWaterShapesin July 2009, has been digitized for all readers. Clickhereto see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Reflective Glory

Working fast on a major art installation with a need for secrecy: That was the taskBryan Weberfaced in building two reflecting pools that raised ‘Sky Mirror’ in front of the home stadium of the Dallas Cowboys. You can see it for yourself on your next visit to the Lone Star State. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Milestones

The 2017 International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo is here, and the coincidence of having his latest blog appear on its opening day leadsJim McCloskeyto reminisce briefly about events at the same show 20 years ago — this before offering his fond farewells to two old and cherished friends.[more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Travel Relief Dept.:An airport in the Dominican Republic is putting an outdoor pool right on the tarmac. [more]

I love pools, but I don’t know about taking a dipen route.

Ill-Advised Twirl Dept.:A Miss Universe candidate learns the hard way the heels and pool edges don’t mix. [more]

It’s such an awkward gaffe that it almost seems deliberate.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Making Light

From the start of a project, wroteBruce Zaretskyin 2007, he has ideas about a certain finishing touch in mind — and refuses to let them go, no matter what comes up along the way to knock him off the path. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Aquascape Unveils Basalt Column Fountain Kits

Aquascape(St. Charles, IL) now packages sets of three Mongolian basalt columns in complete fountain kits. The easy-to-install systems include 24-, 30- and 36-inch-tall basalt columns; a subsurface water basin with a 98-gallon capacity to minimize maintenance and refilling; an energy-efficient pump; and all required pipes, sealant and fittings. For details, clickhere.

Hidden Garden Sounds from PlanterSpeakers

PlanterSpeakers(Bridgeport, CT) makes speaker systems hidden within classic planter formats, including the Model 6.17 pots, which come with either a granite or terra cotta finish. Made of polyethylene using molds imported from Italy, the 16-inch diameter pots contain 6.5-inch coaxial drivers. A model containing a woofer is also available. For details, clickhere.

WPN UPDATE

Come See

Usat the Expo!

TheWaterShapes Professional Networkwill be on hand in Orlando from November 1-3 at the International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo. Please do stop by Booth 857 — right in the heart of the Genesis Pavilion — to learn more about theNetworkand 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 theNetworkdirectly to the listed companies’ own web sites. It’s a marvelous marketing opportunity — inexpensive and ‘consumer-friendly’ in the richest sense of the term.

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

2017/10.2, October 18 — Mansion Memories, Lighting Dynamics, Fountain Miscue and more

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

October 18, 2017 www.watershapes.com

IN MEMORIAM

The Birth of a Dream

The recent passing of Hugh Hefner leads us to revisit a project so remarkable for its time that it’s difficult to imagine the existence of whole classes of modern pools without its abundant innovations.

It also offers us the opportunity to remember the pool’s designers,RonandSuzanne Dirsmith. They’ve both passed away, too, Ron in September 2016 and Suzanne, his partner of 62 years, last January. But they live on through their work for Mr. Hefner and for numerous other clients who benefited from their talent, insight, creativity and dedication to Frank Lloyd Wright’s principles of organic architecture.

May they rest in peace. For now, however, let’s celebrate their legacy by taking another look at the Dirsmiths’ account of their Playboy Mansion project by clickinghere.

POOLS AFTER DARK

Looking at Lighting

Recent advances in light-emitting-diode technology have changed the nature of the pool-lighting task, notesGraham Orme. To explore this expanding range of illuminating possibilities, he begins here by defining the dynamics of lighting some familiar contours in all-new ways. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

The Unheard Music

A chance encounter with a fountain he spotted on his way out of New Orleans last year ledJim McCloskeyto consider the importance of what seemed to be missing from an otherwise impressive celebration of parades, Mardi Gras and the Crescent City’s unique cultural heritage. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Wings on the Water

There’s much more to a birdbath than one might think, saysBill Fintel, an expert in the art of setting up small bodies of water to attract our feathered friends. For many years, in fact, he has studied the way birds act around water and has made a career of applying what he knows to creating avian watershapes that have what it takes to satisfy a winged clientele — and delight homeowners who are passionate about their backyard ornithology.

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

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Mastering Outdoor Fire Features

The popularity ofoutdoor fireplaces has increased dramatically in recent years. Here,Scott Cohencovers key issues related to producing them successfully and safely, discussing materials, heat transmission, smoke direction and proper oxygen draw along the way. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Please Stop By!

It’s nearly time for the International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo —Jim McCloskey‘s annual opportunity to get your feedback at first hand while completing a couple of crucial missions for WaterShapes.com. As always, that includes talking with you about a very important topic! [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Top-Down Fun Dept.:An overly enthusiastic Brit carpets an old BMW and turns it into a rolling hot tub.[more]

Sloshing is a fun factor, as is drowning the barbecue.

Non-Fair Weather Dept.:A waterspout touches down on a Greek pool, turning umbrellas into flying saucers.[more]

The wispy funnel was scary enough — but look out below!

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Learning to Say ‘No’

Back in the glory days of 2007,Bruce Zaretskyexpressed the need for watershapers and other design professionals to have the gumption to turn away projects. Ten years later, is that again a possibility? [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

W.R. Meadows Offers Dual-Layer Waterproofing

W.R. Meadows(Hampshire, IL) offers Clay-Tite, a dual-layer waterproofing system consisting of virgin HDPE (20 mil), sodium bentonite and a protective layer consisting of a non-woven polypropylene. The polypropylene protects the bentonite during shotcrete application; bentonite’s self-sealing capabilities ensure puncture protection. For details, clickhere.

Stone Forest’s Ribbed Sphere Fountains

Stone Forest(Santa Fe, NM) produces ribbed sphere fountains in three diameters: 20, 24 and 36 inches. As water flows over the irregular, saw-cut granite surfaces, they create wavy, mesmerizing flow patterns. Installation kits in square and round formats are available for the smaller sizes; the large one requires a custom base. For details, clickhere.

WPN UPDATE

Checking in

on Opportunity

TheWaterShapes Professional Networkwill be on hand in Orlando from November 1-3 at the International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo. Please do stop by Booth 857 — right in the heart of the Genesis Pavilion — to learn more about theNetworkand 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 theNetworkto the listed companies’ own web sites. It’s a marvelous marketing opportunity — inexpensive and ‘consumer-friendly’ in the richest sense of the term.

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

2017/10.1, October 4 — Expanding Vision, Watergarden Art, Cascading Splendor and more

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

October 4, 2017 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Organic Emergence

Though his long career,John Cohenhas had a knack for finding clients who appreciate his passionate approach to watershaping and, as was true for the project on display here, come to enjoy the unconventional ways in which ideas, themes, echoes and details evolve on site. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Watergardens as Art

Transporting us to another time and place,Mike Gannondiscusses one of the great artistic and horticultural convergences of all time — and brings it all up to date by defining the ways he uses that historic collaboration to inspire his designs in the here and now. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Lights on the Side

Cascades look great in daylight, but lighting them has always been a challenge — andJeff Chapmanhad three of them on his plate. Fortunately, he also had access to a new LED technology — a system that made his work just as compelling at night as it is by day. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Standing Tall

Made with fallen trees or driftwood, the vertical forms sculpted bySteve Kuntzevoke the classic totem poles of the Pacific Northwest, but they are eerily modern just the same. This is particularly true in those cases where he includes running water as part of the composition, turning his sculptures into watershapes that explore the special relationship between wood and water in ways that are both soothing and surprising.

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

TRAVELOGUE

Carving in Jade

For more than 25 years,Nick Troubetzkoyenvisioned a uniquely natural resort on the island of St. Lucia: Called Jade Mountain, that dream is now a marvel of organic architecture and host to more than two dozen vanishing-edge pools — and you, if you choose to visit! [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Genesis Evolution

A recent experience in a Genesis University classroom has reinvigoratedJim McCloskey‘s longstanding interest in technical education — and leads him to offer some observations on the value of adding structure and discipline to the unique Genesis approach.[more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Formerly Buzzing Dept.:California scientist studies the mass of insects found dead in backyard pools.[more]
One man’s life’s work is another’s daily annoyance.

Civic Duty Dept.:San Francisco turned off a notorious fountain to save water, faces huge bill to restart it.[more]

It’s not beloved, but it’s future shouldn’t be so uncertain.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Professional Relations

Back in 2002,Stephanie Rosewrote about the importance of forming networks of professional contacts. Have events and realities of recent years done anything to alter the validity of her comments?[more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Fox Pool Offers Drop-In Spas

Fox Pool Corp.(York, PA) offers pre-plumbed PoolMate Spas to drop into a deck alongside or near a swimming pool. The units include a pump and filtration system along with a 250,000 Btu heater. They also have easy-access steps and an insulated cover, offer 12 or 25 jets and come in Sparkling White or Gray Granite. For details, clickhere.

Pentair Commercial Offers Acu Drive XS

Pentair Commercial Aquatics(Sanford, NC) manufactures Acu Drive XS, a variable frequency drive that reduces aquatic facilities’ operating costs by minimizing energy consumption as well as routine maintenance, because the units also feature motor soft start and decrease water hammer to protect shafts and impellers. For details, clickhere.

WPN UPDATE

Getting Ready

the Year to Come?

These days, the Internet is the information resource of choice for those looking for goods and services. But it’s tough for an individual business to capture attention and interest amid the bewildering array of options facing consumers as they try to find ways to make water 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?

2017/9.2, September 20 — An Inspired Edge, Gravel’s Virtues, Iceland Vistas and more

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

September 20, 2017 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Artful Additions

Renovating a pool for a client who is keenly engaged in the process can be a challenge, writes Andrew Kaner. But with a home and setting like this, the desire to get past it and deliver an amazing transformation lightened the load — and, in this case, led to spectacular results. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Rock-Bottom Value

There was a time when lots of ponds were set up without gravel, notes Ed Beaulieu. But as he discusses here, there are so many advantages to lining their interiors with rocks of various sizes that it’s time to push that old practice out of the pond-making picture, once and for all. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

My Icelandic Saga

He figured that Iceland would be a place with lots of water on display, so Jim McCloskey was somewhat disappointed by how little of it he found. But those few examples were pretty special, and one of them — the famous Blue Lagoon — was uniquely odd. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Core Value

Most watershapers would agree that it’s relatively easy to build excellence into projects that come with large budgets — and that it’s much harder to stay on the path to quality when working in the mid-range market. Rather than compromise and degrade the product (which happens far too frequently, says G. Bruce Dunn of Mission Pools), the savvy contractor should focus on finding ways to deliver at the highest level, even for clients of modest means.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in July/August 2002, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

High Waterlines, Bad Leaks

For the most part, writes Scott Cohen, builders have little trouble with water levels in pools, where they generally set the mark at about the midpoint of the tile line. But with raised, attached spas, things can get trickier — an issue he seeks to remedy here with some timely advice. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

The New WaterShapes.com!

The release of today’s WaterShapes newsletter corresponds with the debut of our new, upgraded, mobile-friendly web site. It’s a big step forward, says Jim McCloskey — and a giant leap toward meeting the changing needs of watershapers worldwide. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Watch Your Step Dept.: A woman mugging for a photo-drone discovers that water is really, really wet. [more] Seems the drone operator knew what would happen . . .

Avian Upkeep Dept.: Workers who maintain Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain find unusual leftovers. [more] Gulls aren’t picky eaters, but they draw the line at bones.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Chromatic Virtues

Color is fantastic, wrote David Tisherman back in September 2002, but it’s a tough nut for any designer to crack. That’s why he suggests a diet of hard work — and use of a few helpful tools along the way. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

CMP Publishes LED Conversion Guide

CMP (Newnan, GA) has released its “Guide for Switching to Brilliant Wonders Premier LED Lighting” as a digital introduction to what’s involved in changing over from existing lighting systems to the use of LEDs. The page includes details on switching from large, niche-style lights; from other nicheless lighting systems; and from all other formats. For details, click here.

Concrete-Countertop Forms from Stegmeier

Stegmeier (Arlington, TX) manufactures forms for poured-in-place concrete countertops. Designed to simplify the installation process, the units are available with a number of profiles; are the ideal height for most applications; and can be shaped or mitered to create any angle. They also have smooth, even textures for easier, earlier stripping. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Building

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?

2017/9.1, September 6 — Tri-Level Precision, Choosing Koi, Defect Avoidance and more

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

September 6, 2017 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Every Piece in Place

Seven watershapes on three levels, each one as dramatic as the next? The concept alone is breathtaking, report Claude Kershner IV and Jeremy Guillen, who say a great design and a superb project team gave them exactly the support they needed to deliver perfection. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Koi Selection ABCs

With many of his clients, Eric Triplett has observed that picking Koi for a new pond is an oddly overwhelming task. That’s why he recommends keeping it simple, using a systematic approach that he and a favorite supplier demonstrate here in a trio of brief videos. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Avoiding Trouble

After years of serving as an expert witness in construction-defect cases, Paolo Benedetti knows what can happen when contractors fail to deliver the expected results. Here, he covers a set of practices aimed at keeping builders on the right path — and out of the courtroom. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Powers of Imagination

Faux-rock specialist John Carlson has spent his career creating artificial structures that deftly fool the eye. Along the way, he’s applied his skills in a various settings, always pushing toward greater levels of complexity no matter whether he’s working with swimming pools, aquariums, decorative features or home interiors. As he demonstrates here, what gets and keeps him going is the flexibility of a material that seems so rigid.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in March/April 2011, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Gallery Views

The Wood Street Gallery includes both watershapes and sculptures in its garden. As designed by Rosalind Reed, the balance here is such that each component looks as though it truly belongs in the setting — something you can see for yourself the next time you visit Chicago. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Another Look

The first generations of residential pools aren’t getting any younger, notes Jim McCloskey, with all of them at a stage where renovation is more often a necessity than an option. This leaves watershapers with a couple million reasons to get involved in a wondrous opportunity. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Right Neighborly Dept.: A 94-year-old man installs a backyard pool for use by kids who live nearby. [more]
Things got too quiet for his liking after his wife’s passing.

Traveling Inspiration Dept.: These are the kinds of places that help to shape consumers’ backyard dreams. [more]

A spectacular view is a help, of course, but not a must.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Witnessing Transitions

There are no shortcuts, wrote Brian Van Bower in September 2007: Watershapers who profess their dedication to quality must back up those declarations with top-notch performance in all of their projects. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Crystal Fountains Announces Linear LEDs

Crystal Fountains (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) has introduced the Spectra Series LED Linear Light for wet or dry applications. The four-inch-wide, low-profile, easy-to-maintain units feature RGBACL lighting technology, which produces light from the purest white to infinite color shades and tones with great precision – and simplified programming. For details, click here.

DEL Ozone Introduces the Eclipse UV

DEL Ozone (San Luis Obispo, CA) offers Eclipse UV, a disinfecting system that keeps pool and spa water clean, clear and safe. Made with a clear glow ring for easy visual confirmation of operation, the units have cooling vents coupled with a heat shield to protect the system from heat and a built-in ball valve for convenient draining and winterization. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Raising

Your Profile

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

The WaterShapes Professional Network is here to help. We’ve built 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.

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

2017/8.2, August 23 — Working the Views, Glowing Pools, Pineapple Days and more

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

August 23, 2017 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Critical Distance

Presented with a smallish space that opened out onto a great big one, Jeromey Naugle found himself playing with views near and far in all sorts of complex ways. The result is a composition that met his clients’ desires — and offered him an interesting insight into his design process. [more]

POOLS AFTER DARK

Illuminating Challenges

The lighting of pools is much more challenging than it once was, notes Graham Orme, mostly because their contours are so much more intricate than they were even 20 years ago. Here, he starts a new series that will guide all of us toward more ‘enlightened’ results. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Sweet Hospitality

Any visit to Charleston, S.C., can be fun — even when you’re there on business, writes Jim McCloskey — if you find time in your schedule to stroll through its Waterfront Park and make your way into its heart to find the utterly charming and most welcoming Pineapple Fountain. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Persuaded by the Past

Some watershapers see their work in primarily technical terms — as complex tasks to be completed efficiently and well. Others, notes watershaper and landscape artist Christopher Lines, see technical mastery as a starting point beyond which they pursue purely artistic impulses. He’s firmly in the latter camp, he adds, with a penchant for creating classically-inspired gardens that tantalize the senses and fire the imagination with echoes of eras long past.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in May/June 2011, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Waterproofing Raised Spas

For generations, the pool industry has operated under the assumption that plaster is an effective waterproofing membrane. That’s not the case, notes Scott Cohen, which leads him to discuss the importance of waterproofing raised spas — and how to fix a troubled one. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Generational Shifts

Sorting through his understanding of the dynamics of water-related businesses, Jim McCloskey recalls the industry’s last big generational transition — and holds out some hope that the one we’re experiencing now will take a somewhat easier path than the previous one. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Humor in Uniformity Dept.: Cops in pool caps make a strong case for male synchronized swimming. [more]
It would be merely silly if they weren’t so good at it . . .

Creatures Great and Small Dept.: Nevada woman saves a waterlogged lizard with a wee bit of CPR. [more]

Happily, there was no need for a mouth-to-mouth session.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Life’s Absurdities

Back in 2007, Brian Van Bower wrote with edgy wit about the vagaries of trying to work with any sort of real creativity on commercial design projects. Has the passage of time improved the situation? [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

FAFCO Offers Solar Power/Pool Heating System

FAFCO (Chico, CA) has developed CoolPV, a combined solar-power-generating/water-heating system — a hybrid that powers a home with photovoltaic modules while heating its pool with water tubes placed beneath the solar cells. As combined, the water system cools the photovoltaic modules, enhancing performance and increasing their output. For details, click here.

Bobé Releases Line of CorTen Planters

Bobé Water & Fire Features (Phoenix, AZ) has introduced a line of planters made from CorTen, a weathering form of steel that develops a unique patina as it ages. The units are available in three different models — square, rectangular and tall — and come untreated (to produce a rusted color) or with an ocean patina or clear-coated for a steel look. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Making Your
Presence Known

Through the years, watershapers have invested extensively in building beautiful web sites but for the most part have been unable to figure out how to help prospective clients find them amid the chaos of the Internet. Why so? It’s because building a strong web presence as a stand-alone site is a tough way to go — and that’s precisely why we started the WaterShapes Professional Network.

By building a collective presence in which dozens and, eventually, hundreds of sites participate as an interlinked colossus, we become 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.

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

2017/8.1, August 9 — Vanishing-Edge Pond, 24/7 Poolscapes, Algae Management and more

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

August 9, 2017 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Split-Level Pond

Setting up a vanishing-edge Koi pond offers unusual challenges to the watershaper. First, notes Scott Cohen, you need to accommodate the fish and keep them safe. Then there are the aesthetic issues — plus a few details of installation that require extra-special attention. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

A Full Day’s Delight

A crucial part of the backyard design process these days, writes Glen MacGillivray, is motivating homeowners to venture outside after dark. Here’s a look at how he approaches this day-to-night transition, from keeping the water moving to making it glow. [more]

TFEATURE ARTICLE

Pond-Algae Strategies

Although a little algae in a pond is generally a good and inevitable thing, observes Mike Gannon, a bloom of any noticeable extent is never truly welcome. That’s why he has sized up and is ready to recommend a number of ways to help keep the intrusive greenery at bay. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Coordinated Perspective

Working together for the first time, designer Stephanie Rose and builder Randy Beard became quickly and closely allied in their effort to complete a challenging project for extremely particular clients — a couple who, from concept to construction, also became key collaborators in the project. The result is a contemporary composition that blends an understated watershape and tasteful plantings with an outstanding collection of modern art.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in November 2005, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

An Edge of Honor

The Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Worcester’s Green Hill Park was a labor of love when it was completed and dedicated in 2002: It unfolds as a serene, symbolic tribute to self-sacrifice and the anguish of war — and it’s well worth a visit to this day. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Sad Partings

Herman Silverman and John Kelley, Jr., both passed away recently, a fact that has prompted Jim McCloskey to share some thoughts on their roles in shaping the industry as we know it — and in helping a young editor find his way into its deeper history, meaning and culture. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Inspiration Dept.: Check out this photographic survey of the most amazing hotel pools in the USA. [more]
It all goes to show how much the setting really matters!

Odd Response Dept.: The citizens of Belgrade don’t seem to be taking a shine to their new musical fountain. [more]

It may be excessive, but it’ll be treasured before too long.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Straight Talk

In working on projects across a range of sizes, styles and price tags as his career developed, wrote Bruce Zaretsky back in 2007, he came to recognize key truths about the nature of the business. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Roman Fountains Offers Nozzle with LED Lights

Roman Fountains (North Venice, FL) manufactures the RRDJ2-XX-DH-LED, a flush-mounted nozzle/LED light assembly for fountain applications. The units consist of high-strength, roto-molded, polypropylene niche bodies with stainless steel grates and nozzle inserts. There are three available spray patterns and a choice of white or RGB lights. For details, click here.

Artistic Paver Introduces PlankLock Pavers

Artistic Paver Mfg. (North Miami Beach, FL) has unveiled PlankLock, a paver system designed to have the look of long, narrow planks that can be arranged in either linear or herringbone patterns. The decorative units are salt-resistant, are available in light colors for cooler surfaces, and have beveled edges to reduce trip hazards and chip-outs. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Another Face
in a Crowd?

Watershapers have a distinct ability to produce spectacular work — and, to be honest, frequent 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?

2017/7.2, July 26 — Rooftop Perspectives, Turtle Liberation, Fountain Folly and more

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

July 26, 2017 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Steely Resolution

This downtown Indianapolis apartment complex wanted a rooftop pool to help build a sense of community. Stainless steel was the answer here, writes Gary Novitski — a shell that allowed for a stylish, vanishing-edge look up top while keeping everything watertight and safely dry below. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

From Tank to Pond

Pitching in to move four large turtles out of a plain concrete tank and into a beautiful pond was soul satisfying, notes Ed Beaulieu. But making the project a gift to a pioneering turtle researcher? That was even more rewarding for the 50 skilled volunteers who helped make it happen. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Inexplicable

He was perfectly happy with the impression the fountain had made the first time he saw it, says Jim McCloskey. That’s why he’s so dismayed by the ‘updated’ version, which takes a powerful, kinetic sculpture and hobbles it in what he labels a sad, unfortunate renovation. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Flames On

Pyrotechnic-effects expert Karl Nettmann has been involved with creating dramatic flame effects for more than a dozen years, first for television and film productions and now in landscapes and other ‘real world’ spaces. Here, he discusses the range of effects that can be achieved using fire, the technology behind common systems and basic safety considerations that must be accommodated no matter the simplicity or complexity of an effect.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in March 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

Vanishing-Edge Solutions

Both structurally and hydraulically, vanishing-edge pools are more complex than the average backyard swimming hole. Here, Scott Cohen delves into a few of the details that most often lead to problems, offering valuable advice on forming, water leveling and catch basins. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

A Sinking Feeling

He generally sees travel as an exciting experience, writes Jim McCloskey. But in this case, it was also a sobering reminder of the extent to which our beloved coastlines are at risk — a reality easily seen in moving through the challenged waterways of one great European city. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Pages of History Dept.: Would you believe San Francisco once boasted the world’s largest outdoor pool? [more]
Or that the big ocean-fed brute was open until the 1970s?

It’s About Time Dept.: Olympics to include mixed-gender squads in several sports, including a swim relay. [more]

4 x 100 mixed medley is on the agenda for Tokyo 2020.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Free Your Mind

Back in 2007, Brian Van Bower offered his observations on overcoming his own budget-related preconceptions about clients. Some points he made still ring true, but has today’s economy changed things? [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Natural Wonders Waterfall Systems from CMP

CMP (Newnan, GA) offers Natural Wonders Waterfalls for adding sheer veils of water to pools, spas and other waterfeatures. Available in lengths up to eight feet, the units feature rear or bottom ports, require flows of only one gallon per minute per inch, can be made to fit any convex or concave contour and come in clear, white, grey and tan. For details, click here.

Atlantic Water Gardens Upgrades Pond-Free Kits

Atlantic Water Gardens (Mantua, OH) has updated its pond-free kits by including higher performance pumps and warm-white LED lights. The pre-matched packages come complete — including glue, cleaner, sealant, fittings and auto-fill devices — and pair vaults and spillways with energy-efficient pumps selected for specific stream dimensions. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Colossal
Results

Those of you who design and build pools, spas, fountains, ponds, streams, waterfalls and other forms of contained, controlled water have perfected your capacity to create works of great beauty. But you 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 — if only they could find you!

That’s where the WaterShapes Professional Network can help: We’ve built a web presence in which scores of designers and builders of watershapes of all types participate as an Internet colossus — an entity large and interconnected enough that 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?

2017/7.1, July 12 — Colorado Dreaming, Poolside Flames, Vanishing-Edge Walls and more

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

July 12, 2017 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Mountain Majesty

The property may be in Missouri, but the clients wanted a ‘mountain lake’ to go along with their big, Rockies-style lodge. Kurt Kraisinger was happy to oblige — both for the change of pace and for the scope and scale of what proved to be a vast, detailed and lengthy endeavor. [more]

WHAT IS IT?

#27: Fire Bowls

With so many projects featuring fire bowls these days, says Mike Farley, it’s getting all too easy to take them for granted. But as he discusses in introducing his video on the subject, it’s important to use them well — and to make certain they’re ready for year-round enjoyment. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Edge-Wall Essentials

Vanishing-edge pools have been around for a long time now, but Paolo Benedetti is aware that good numbers of watershapers are still making fundamental errors in their design and construction — including some problems he seeks to address with a few helpful tips. [more]

ESSENTIAL

A True Cliffhanger

Swimming pool designs have come a long way in recent years, says design and project manager Ron Yavis of Sunshine Pools & Spas — particularly when it comes to the high-end, custom-designed, vinyl-liner pools the company specializes in designing and building for some of the continent’s most spectacular settings. To make his case for ‘custom vinyl,’ he profiles a recent project perched high above the bright waters of Canada’s Lake Okanagan.

This article, originally published in WaterShapes in February 2003, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Images in Time

From early urban settlements to modern architectural settings, says Mark Holden, watershapes have played key roles in expressing the values of their societies. Here’s a tour of visitable places that will give you a sense of the cultural significance of what you all do. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Design or Art?

A wide-ranging (and sometimes strange) Internet debate about the differences between design and art caught Jim McCloskey‘s eye and started him thinking about what the discussion might mean for watershapers, watershaping and other practical forms of expression. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

You Are What Your Eat Dept.: Podcast discusses the potential of pond scum in nutrient-rich ‘cuisine.’ [more]
A healthy source of color — and a nutritional bonanza.

Gold Is Where You Find It Dept.: London group organizing hot tub boat rides on historic Regent’s Canal. [more]

Wood-fired heat and electric engines offer quiet comfort.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Controlling Elements

In July 2002, David Tisherman wrote energetically about the need for designers and builders to pay scrupulous attention to an oft-overlooked issue. Do you think he was close to hitting the mark? [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Zodiac Upgrades the Polaris Booster Pump

Zodiac Pool Systems (Vista, CA) has introduced the Polaris PB4SQ booster pump. Designed for energy efficiency, quieter operation and ease of installation and service, the high-performance, fan-cooled unit is made to power the company’s line of pressure-side cleaners and reduces energy consumption by 30 percent compared to older models. For details, click here.

Couture Outdoor Offers Double Daybed

Couture Outdoor (Southampton, NY) imports the Chill Daybed, a double-size unit with a retractable canopy and privacy curtains. Designed for a contemporary look in either residential or commercial settings, the systems feature durable powder-coated aluminum frames with inset wicker details and are available in 28 distinctive fabric colors. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Collective
Strength

The rationale for banding together in an web network is simple: By creating a mass of companies — each one of them with its own Internet presence and all of them effectively aligned to one another by virtue of reciprocal links with the hosting site — an entity such as the WaterShapes Professional Network makes every participant seem larger and inherently more interesting to search engines. This leads to more exposure, more leads, more clicks, more prospective clients.

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

2017/6.2, June 21 — Sparkling Beauty, Glowing Artistry, A Righteous Rill and more

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

June 21, 2017 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

A Jewel in the Woods

Working with a property owner who insists on an unconventional approach to a project can be a challenge. But it definitely helps, reports William Drakeley, when that client is also open-minded, imaginative and absolutely set on achieving brilliant, gem-like results. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Translucent Beauty

He was called in to help with a spa, but Brian Van Bower ended up pitching in with three watershapes in all — each of which offered unique hydraulic challenges and all of which contributed to creating an elegant, water-defined penthouse space overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Straight and Narrow

His fondness for water of great subtlety makes Jim McCloskey a fan of well-executed rills — including one you definitely should see the next time you come to Los Angeles and take advantage of the opportunity to visit the Huntington Gardens in suburban San Marino. [more]

ESSENTIAL

High-Rise Performance

The process of installing swimming pools in high-rise buildings presents a number of challenges not found in standard inground projects, notes commercial pool specialist William N. Rowley. To illustrate that point, he discusses what went into crafting two spectacular pools for Los Angeles’ new L.A. Live complex, where special concerns about leaks, noise, weight, maintenance and basic project execution all came prominently into play.

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

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Making Safe Steps and Landings

Steps and landings are among the most common of all elements in landscapes. Unfortunately, says Scott Cohen, they also can be serious safety hazards that could lead to lawsuits — a thought that leads him to offer a number of practical tips on how to minimize the risks. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Nothing But Net

A brief meditation on the way he relates to his personal ‘backyard resort’ leads Jim McCloskey to discuss the longstanding approach he uses when looking at watershapes in general — and in evaluating them for publication through WaterShapes.com. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

No More Mr. Nice Guy Dept.: Rome strikes back at those who just can’t resist a dip in Trevi Fountain. [more]
Your La Vita Dolce moment could cost you, big time!

No Good News Ever Dept.: A parasite in the Lincoln Memorial’s reflecting pool bumps off 80 ducks. [more]

It may no longer leak, but now it has killer snails!

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Slippery Slopes

As a designer, Stephanie Rose liked the challenges of working on slopes, especially near watershapes. Back in 2002, she led the way in calling for a distinct approach to these contoured settings. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Magic Plastics’ CR2 Check Valve

Magic Plastics (Valencia, CA) has released the CR2, a back-flow-preventing check valve that is completely resistant to corrosion. The units have clear lids for easy monitoring and are commonly used to protect heat exchangers from the potential damage to be done by in-line chlorinators while also maintaining an uninterrupted, full-flow circulation system. For details, click here.

Updated Pond Kits from Atlantic Water Gardens

Atlantic Water Gardens (Mantua, OH) has reconfigured its matched-component pond kits to include upgraded equipment and more efficient pumps along with improved, solid-brass LED lights. Available for small, medium, large and extra large ponds, the kits include skimmers, waterfall filters, tubing, fittings and liners to eliminate any guesswork. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Getting in
the Game

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 water, for example, part of their home or working lives.

That’s why we started the WaterShapes 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.

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