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

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

August 10, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Edged in Green

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

POND Q & A

Back to Basics

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

FEATURE ARTICLE

An Exotic Oasis

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

ESSENTIAL

Eastern Eclectic

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

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

TRAVELOGUE

Helping Habitats

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

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Milestone Time

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

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

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

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

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

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

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Smart Steps

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

THE SHOPPING CART

Aquascape Introduces New Line of Skimmer/Filters

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

Viron CL Cartridge Filters from AstralPool

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

WPN UPDATE

The Strength
of the Many

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

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

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

2016/7.2, July 27 — Deadline Drama, pH and Plaster, Fountain Up Close and more

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

July 27, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Racing to the Finish Line

With winter slowly ending, Barry Justus knew that he had no time to spare in converting this homeowner’s dream of a personal five-star resort into a multi-watershape, party-ready reality. This included the hidden slide and the vanishing television — all on a rigid deadline. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Watching pH

What happens when the water added to a newly plastered pool has had a chance to interact fully with its new surroundings? That’s a big question, writes Kim Skinner — one that has implications for the long-term appearance and maintenance of countless watershapes. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Don’t Forget the Cupcakes

A lunch meeting in downtown Glendale, Calif., offered Jim McCloskey an unexpected treat in the form of a dazzling fountain set in a compact public courtyard. It’s worth a visit just to bask in the composition’s unusual approachability — and enjoy the tasty treats you’ll find nearby, too! [more]

ESSENTIAL

Light, Space and Water

Contemporary artist Eric Orr and his protégé, Sean So, both use the flow of water to lend texture and bring distinction to basic geometric forms. For them, these small flows embody ‘transformation,’ which stands as the ideological core of the Light and Space Movement they both represent. Here, So explains the tradition and creative essence of the movement and brings it into perspective as part of today’s commercial waterfeature market.

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

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Contractors, Footprints and Dust

The carelessness of contractors from other trades is often a problem on job sites, observes Scott Cohen. To sidestep these issues, he suggests some precautions and preemptive measures while offering tips on working with clients to head off misunderstandings. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

A Timely Proposition

A new program aimed at tracking the progress of learn-to-swim programs is now on the agenda for the National Swimming Pool Foundation. As Jim McCloskey reports here, it’s a great concept with wide-ranging benefits that will keep on giving well into the future. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Well-Planned Fun Dept.: Pair uses the ‘Coke/Mentos Reaction’ to create an impressive fountain display. [more]

Watch until the end — the show just keeps getting better.

Stormy Weather Dept.: Washington, D.C., downpour creates a waterfall in a most unexpected location. [more]

Doesn’t look like fun. Would Coke and Mentos help?

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

The View from Inside

When Bruce Zaretsky wrote his On the Level column for July, 2011, he chose to focus on a design issue he saw as being of underappreciated significance for anyone working in the great outdoors. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Oase Offers Multi-Function Filtral for Ponds

Oase (Orange, CA) manufactures Filtral UVC, a compact filter with an integrated UV disinfection system and the added functionality of a fountain. Designed for ponds containing 700 to 1,200 gallons of water, the unit also includes filter media that ensures a healthy population of beneficial bacteria — all with very little maintenance. For details, click here.

RenoSys Introduces DuraTech Pool Gratings

RenoSys (Indianapolis, IN) now offers a full range of DuraTech pool gratings to accommodate any pool gutter trench’s width or style — T-bar, I-bar or interlocking. Certified slip-resistant and made of colorfast, UV-resistant polymers, fiberglass, PVC, granite or stainless steel, they are ideal for use in repairing or renovating aquatic facilities. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Collaborating
for a Bigger
Web Presence

Through the years, lots of watershapers have invested extensively 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 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: Click here to climb aboard!

2016/7.1, July 13 — Inspired Pondcraft, Rain Curtains, Racing the Clock and more

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

July 13, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Lofty Inspiration

When a client approaches a designer with something very specific in mind, working out project parameters can be a chore. But in this case, writes Steve Sandalis, the homeowner offered ideas for a backyard pondscape that were fully welcomed — and inspiring indeed! [more]

WHAT IS IT?

#24: Rain Curtain

Homeowners love the water-droplet systems he designs and installs for them, says Mike Farley. But as he advises while introducing this video, their satisfaction with these graceful waterfeatures will last only if he starts his work by keeping one major consideration in mind. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Against the Clock

Faced by a firm deadline and the realities of over-winter construction in Canada, Barry Justus knew he had little time to spare — and a whole lot to accomplish in a few short months if he was to have any hope of completing a grand-scale project in time for a springtime party. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Simple Green

There’s a place in the world, says veteran watershaper Peter Cattano, for relatively modest swimming pools. Using a recently completed ‘garden pool’ to illustrate that point, he describes how great clients, an integrated landscape design, professional cooperation and careful construction can come together to deliver the best of everything swimming pools have to offer, even in a situation where the project’s scope and scale are quite down to earth.

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

TRAVELOGUE

A Buccaneer’s Brew

Known locally as ‘Splash,’ the La Mirada Regional Aquatics Facility is a model of creative watershaping and of a city’s large-scale commitment. As Patricia Soto describes it here, the facility is something you should plan on seeing next time you’re in southern California. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

The Power of a Pool

The emergence of ‘river pools’ as a means of addressing city-dwellers’ impulse to swim in ‘natural’ surroundings has been on Jim McCloskey‘s radar for some time now. He sees huge potential here — and in this post defines an opportunity worth striking while the iron’s hot. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Stupid Human Tricks Dept.: Foolish gent dumps 30 pounds of dry ice in a pool to see what happens. [more]

Carbon dioxide fills the air — and fouls the water chemistry.

Frogs Gone Wild Dept.: A horde of green tree frogs beats the heat by descending upon a Florida pool. [more]

They look like a throng of thrill-seeking spring breakers.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Hearing Voices

Back in July 2006, Brian Van Bower turned his thoughts toward what he described as a missing link in the way watershapers approached the marketplace — and suggested doing something about it. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Deck Art from Mountain Laurel Handrail

Mountain Laurel Handrail (Franklin, NC) offers unique deck-railing systems made from real-wood frames filled with natural branches. The materials work outdoors or inside and come in a variety of styles, starting out as red sticks whose color can be preserved with a penetrating, natural-color stain but that will, left alone, weather to a silvery color. For details, click here.

S.R. Smith Launches TX-30 Pool Lighting System

S.R. Smith (Canby, OR) has introduced the TX-30 LED Pool Lighting Kit — a complete lighting system that includes a low-voltage power center and one, two, or three Treo LED pool lights. The lights feature six colors and operate in both fast and slow color-changing modes. The system enclosure is made of corrosion-resistant polycarbonate. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Something
Extra — and
Extra Special

A quick review of the activity of visitors to the WaterShapes Professional Network indicates that the landing pages of each participating company have been viewed an average of 300 times through the past 12 months — and that those landing-page visits have resulted in nearly 150 click-throughs apiece to those companies’ own web sites.

It also shows that the companies that have uploaded project pictorials to the WPN site’s home page have averaged nearly 30 percent more visits and click-throughs compared to other WPN participants. Seems as though putting in a little extra effort translates to a heap of extra interest and leads.

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

2016/6.2, June 22 — Artificial Splendor, Pond Oxygen, Grand-Scale Serenity and more

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

June 22, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

The ‘Forever’ Look

Called upon when other contractors couldn’t give the client the organic look he wanted, Matt Wilson put his skills and long experience with artificial rock to the test in creating a water- and plant-draped outcropping that appears to have been in place since time immemorial. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Oxygen Rescues

In a well-balanced pond, the oxygen content of the water is seldom an issue. But if things move off course, notes Mike Gannon, it’s essential to find the cause — and then apply one of three possible remedies tailored to the urgency of the need and the extent of the budget. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Urban Bliss

A recent trip to visit family in Washington state gave Jim McCloskey the unexpected pleasure of finding a huge downtown park with an ambitious set of aquatic features. It’s worth a stop — despite the fact that the composition is still partly unfinished after more than 30 years! [more]

ESSENTIAL

Echoes of Grandeur

In some places, observes landscape architect Lauchlin Bethune, Mother Nature sets higher standards for naturalistic installations. Where he lives near Seattle, for example, he and his clients are surrounded by the beauty that comes with ample rain, rugged terrain and plentiful greenery — an environment that makes it tough for watershapers to balance the practicalities of construction with the passionate desire to mimic local grandeur.

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

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Keep Weep Screeds Clear

Weep screeds are occasionally blocked by deck construction and, as a result, are no longer able to keep moisture from accumulating at the base of a wall. That’s a costly mistake, writes Scott Cohen, which is why he strongly recommends a better approach. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

A Personal First

He’s taken his time getting here, but after 30 years of observing and reporting on them, Jim McCloskey has finally designed, engineered and built a watershape. It’s up to you to decide whether his effort passes muster or if he should find another way to pass his free time. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Sound Sensations Dept.: Band performs under water with unusual instruments and eerie vocalizations. [more]

It’s not danceable, but it’s oddly moving just the same.

Crime and Silliness Dept.: UK renter ordered to remove pond as a hazard to unsuspecting burglars. [more]

Let’s hope liability is just one of many landlord concerns.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Meeting Minds

Five years back, Brian Van Bower used his Aqua Culture column to discuss a big shift he’d observed in the realm of watershaping — one he saw as being beneficial for those ready to deal with the change. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

RicoRock’s New Stream Sections for Pool Waterfalls

RicoRock (Orlando, FL) now manufactures a one-piece, cast concrete panel that allows water to fall at a greater distance from a swimming pool’s edge. The new four-by-seven-foot sections provide an easy way to control the water pathway off of waterfeatures, using a simple formation of smaller rocks to imitate the natural courses found in a stream. For details, click here.

Crystal Fountains Offers Fyrefly Multi-Stream Jets

Crystal Fountains (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) manufactures the Model WMT122 Fyrefly Jet to bring multiple streams of arcing water to pools, spas and other watershapes. Made of cast bronze, brass and stainless steel with optional fiberoptic lighting, the units are not water-level dependent and can be mounted at 20- or 40-degree angles on decks or walls. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Navigating the
Decision-Making
Process

For years now, conventional wisdom has told us that the decision to purchase a watershape of any kind is a process that takes several years from initial idea to actual commitment. That’s why the WaterShapes Professional Network is so important: It gives homeowners and decision-makers an easy way to begin their research and an anonymous, private means of gathering information before they reach out and make contact with professionals whose work they admire. Click here to check it out — and get ready for your future!

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

2016/6.1, June 8 — Moving-Water Dynamics, Pond Detour, Indoor Pool Air and more

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

June 8, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Active Water

When agitated or flowing water moves through the air, it loses carbon dioxide. That’s particularly significant in systems with fountain jets, waterfalls or vanishing edges, observes Kim Skinner, with the loss affecting pH in ways that must be dealt with to avoid big problems. [more]

SPRING CLEANING

A Fresh Start

The seasonal cleaning of a pond is a big undertaking, concedes Eric Triplett. But as he discusses in wrapping up his five-part video series on the subject, it’s also a golden opportunity to size up the situation and inject new life into the ecosystem — in this case, literally. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Humidity Factor

Indoor pools are wonderful as both design challenges and family recreation centers. But as Paolo Benedetti discusses here, they’ll stand the test of time only if you take care of moving the moisture they generate away from the indoor space — no shortcuts allowed! [more]

ESSENTIAL

Restoring a Classic

Two years after starting work on this historic site, Jason Fragomeni looked back with pride at what he and his staff at Fragomeni Design Group had accomplished. Along that pathway to success, however, he ran into twists and turns that often had him wondering whether the project, which originated with the supposedly straightforward restoration of a 1920s-vintage swimming pool, would ever work out the way he and the homeowners hoped it would.

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

TRAVELOGUE

Sailing Grace

Challenged to develop a fountain and sculpture that would make a strong statement about a company’s technological prowess, Michael Batchelor and Andrey Bererzowsky delivered a work of rare beauty — one that’s well worth a visit to the Cleveland suburb of Mayfield, Ohio. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

What’s Up with the News?

Failed inspections? DNA mutations? The news about conditions at public aquatic facilities hasn’t been so good lately. But Jim McCloskey takes the long view and, as he relates here, doesn’t see anything that will interfere with his personal dedication to summer fun. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Startling Illusion Dept.: French designer turns slabs of marble into a seductively swirling aquatic vision. [more]

It’s the perfect ending for the artist’s ‘Liquid Marble’ series.

Brilliant Benefits Dept.: Chicago woman with multiple sclerosis finds one place she can still dance. [more]

Her severe disability vanishes once she enters the pool.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Knowing Your Range

Back in 2006, David Tisherman tipped his cap to those who run broad-based businesses — then dug into reasons he’d found value in taking another, more focused professional path. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Vertex Upgrades Solar-Powered Aeration System

Vertex Water Features (Pompano Beach, FL) has updated its BriteStar battery-free solar aerators with a new cooling system, updated electronics and a higher-output compressor that delivers 40 percent more oxygenating air to pond water. For those who already have 24-volt systems in place, the compressor and diffusers are available separately. For details, click here.

RenoSys Offers RecDeck for Safer Pool Decks

RenoSys (Indianapolis, IN) offers RecDeck PVC flooring, an encapsulating system that waterproofs any deck area and makes it slip-resistant. Consisting of a thick, reinforced-PVC membrane, the material addresses issues with surface cracking, flaking, delamination, spalling and peeling and has an anti-fungal formulation that makes it ideal for pool decks. For details,click here.

WPN UPDATE

Counting
the Leads

The numbers are noteworthy: The listings of most companies participating in the WaterShapes Professional Network have been visited by consumers hundreds of times, which isn’t surprising. What really grabs the eye is that fact that those who view these listings are clicking through to the companies’ own web sites more than 25 percent of the time the listing is viewed. And in a couple of remarkable cases, more than 50 percent of those visiting a WPN listing are clicking through to web sites get more information.

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

2016/5.2, May 18 — Basin Reborn, Perimeter Parameters, Fountain Fireworks and more

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

May 18, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Finding a Fix

The fountain basin was designed for children at play, but a deteriorating finish was making it much less fun than it should have been. Enter Ron Melbourne, a specialist in reviving watershapes in their time of need: He saved the day with felt, adhesive, PVC and well-applied heat. [more]

WHAT IS IT?

#23: Perimeter-Overflow Spa

When done well, these water-in-transit systems look like simplicity itself, observes Mike Farley. But as he discusses in introducing this video, there’s a lot of careful work involved in preparing these increasingly popular watershapes for pitch-perfect performance. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Provincial Splendor

Not even the staging for Bastille Day fireworks could completely hide the fountain at the heart of this French city from Jim McCloskey‘s curious eyes. When he returned the next day, he found a magnificent watershape that spoke volumes about local history and commerce. [more]

ESSENTIAL

The New American Garden

The gardens of James van Sweden have influenced an entire generation of landscape architects and designers while his firm — Oehme, van Sweden — has designed scores of renowned public and private spaces in the United States and around the world. Here, he profiles his firm’s work on the Chicago Botanic Garden and its Great Basin, describing what it’s like to approach, bid and execute design projects at the very highest level.

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

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Clients and Color Consistency

The use of decorative concrete in a rainbow of colors has opened watershape projects to an array of fantastic design possibilities. Unfortunately, notes Scott Cohen, it can also lead to problems when your clients decide the results don’t exactly align with their expectations. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Generational Joys

The arrival of a new grandson on April 13 reminded Jim McCloskey of how significant a role his family’s pool and spa have played in their lives — including a few instances where there’s photographic proof of good times he’s shared with readers through the years. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Nature Gone Wild Dept.: A hailstorm turns a Texas pool into a roiling, boiling sea of super-agitated water. [more]

It’s like comets hitting the ocean — and just a bit scary.

Silly Artistry Dept.: German pair treats New Yorkers to a goofy representation of ‘Van Gogh’s Ear’ [more]

Clever, but doesn’t this swimming pool deserve better?

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Gardens for People

Back in 2011, Bruce Zaretsky used his column to explore the balance between two great pillars of design — and brought it all home by introducing a third key factor that should also be considered. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Hayward Offers Salt Chlorinator with Extended-Life Cell

Hayward Pool Products (Elizabeth, NJ) has introduced AquaRite 900, an Expert Line salt chlorinator featuring an extended-life TurboCell that produces 25 percent more chlorine during its service life. Available in two models — one for pools holding up to 25,000 gallons, the other for pools with up to 40,000 gallons — the systems can cut chlorine costs in half. For details, click here.

PAL Lighting Launches Touch 5 Control System

PAL Lighting USA (Tucson, AZ) has introduced the Touch 5 wireless control. Designed with five separate channels operated by touch from a remote handset, smart phone or tablet, the unit has one channel dedicated to lighting control (and remembers the last color, speed and brightness settings) and four others to cover pumps, blowers, valves and more. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Your Business
in Context

We’ve added another key component to the WaterShapes Professional Network! Now you can easily convey information on awards you’ve received and the affiliations you’ve established within your WPN listing, kicking off the process of building credibility with prospective buyers before they even visit your own site for more information. The next time you visit your listing’s Dashboard, click the “Manage Your Awards and Affiliations” box and add this key information right away!

It’s all part of making WPN the one-stop clearinghouse for consumer-oriented information about watershapes and watershapers.

The Network is growing: Time to climb aboard?

2016/5.1, May 4 — Tile Intricacy, Pond Intervention, Community Interest and more

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

May 4, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Double the Pleasure

As Jimmy Reed knows well, glass tile can be an unforgiving material. But with meticulous planning and surface preparation, he insists, even surfaces as complex as those he encountered in this project can be tiled efficiently — without annoying visual interruptions. [more]

SPRING CLEANING

All Due Respect

Giving a pond a good Spring workout can be disruptive, as Eric Triplett discusses during this video. But it also can be highly beneficial to the watershape, he says, if the intervention is thoughtful and the goal is to welcome fish and plants back to a safe, healthy environment. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

A Finer Purpose

Several years back, Bruce Zaretsky came to a crossroads in his career and decided it was time to be more deliberate about how he gave back to his community. Here’s a look at the result: Project Scion, which brings green spaces to rough urban neighborhoods. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Custom Integrations

Sometimes, watershaping projects flow smoothly from start to finish. Other times, however, the path to integrating setting, hardscape, plants and water within bounds of the clients’ desires and budget can be quite complicated. The project seen here falls into the second category, says designer Kathy Marosz, but 18 months of communication, revision and compromise eventually resulted in a tapestry rich in color, texture, style and sound.

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

TRAVELOGUE

A Base of Comfort

To soften and humanize the austere appearance of a facility for homeless families, Mark Holden and Jim Bucklin had to create unique systems to accommodate the world’s largest ceramic amphora — something worth seeing if you have occasion to visit Tustin, Calif. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Wow — Just Wow

The announced merger between the National Swimming Pool Foundation and the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals took Jim McCloskey‘s breath away — but he’s already recovered enough to offer those negotiating the details a pair of important suggestions. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Compulsive Living Dept.: Man builds dream house over a pond so he can fish even when the weather’s bad. [more]

A hole in the floor does the trick — but it’s not enough!

Gracious Living Dept.: Canadian gent cuts back on his swimming routine — but he has a decent excuse. [more]

Wouldn’t you slow down just a bit after turning 102?

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

The Educational Imperative

From the start of his working relationship with WaterShapes, David Tisherman wrote about this one topic more than any other — but as you’ll see here, rarely with the passion he displayed in May 2001. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Pebble Technology Offers ‘Luminous’ Glass Beads

Pebble Technology (Scottsdale, AZ) supplies Luminous, a collection of iridescent glass beads that can be combined with the company’s PebbleTec or PebbleSheen pool finishes to create a glistening underwater effect. The colored beads are offered in three blends — blue, emerald or jade — that add new dimension to a watershape’s interior surfaces. For details, click here.

Aquascape Releases 2016 Product Catalog

Aquascape (St. Charles, IL) has published its 2016 Product Catalog. The 104-page digital booklet covers the company’s pond and pondless kits; filters, pumps and lighting; products for fish and plant care and water treatment; and a range of tools and accessories. There’s also information on decorative waterfeatures and on rainwater-harvesting systems. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Check Out Our

Photo Features!

Niot long ago, we put finishing touches on a new home-page feature that enables members of the

WaterShapes Professional Network to upload brief pictorials about projects they want to share with consumers who are looking for professional assistance in developing the watershapes of their dreams. This new addition to the network puts program participants front and center — the perfect way to grab attention and make contact!

Please click here to visit the WPN site, then scroll down to see the projects some of our members have already uploaded.

The Network is growing: Time to climb aboard?

2016/4.2, April 20 — Extreme Acrylic, Dreamscape (with Moat), Urban Attraction and more

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

April 20, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Panel Discussion

When the owner of this spec house wanted something truly unique out back, the design prepared by Brian Van Bower met the mark on all levels, complementing an elongated waterfront home with a jewel of a pool that stands out from every perspective, near and far. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

A Watery Domain

It may have the look of a genuine French castle, writes Steve Sandalis, but the moat, pond and waterfall he installed here all belong to a California property — and to owners who wanted to be involved in every aspect of the planting, from selection to details of placement. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

A San Francisco Treat

San Francisco is a constantly unfolding delight for visitors, observes Jim McCloskey, so much so that it helps to narrow your exploratory focus — in his case to water. That’s how he came across this splendid MLK memorial fountain downtown, right next to Moscone Center. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Forming Flows

When observed as it exists in nature, notes Sven Schunemann, water’s various forms and rhythms can be captured and reproduced by watershapers. He and other Flowforms sculptors have raised that bar, however, digging deep into water’s physical dynamics and developing precise, specialized water/sculpture systems that are visually intriguing — and also lay claim to being a form of treatment that naturally enhances water’s capacity to nourish.

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

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

The Hazards of Water Migration

Water moving from one level to another undoubtedly adds interest to waterfeatures, but it also can damage stone used in waterline applications. Here, Scott Cohen looks at the phenomenon of spillway turbulence and suggests ways to avoid the problems it can cause. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Forward Progress

A procrastinator in some minor ways, Jim McCloskey has taken his time in getting around to a couple of household projects that have been on his agenda for years. He has abundant excuses for the delays, of course, but the time has finally come to get a few of them done. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Backyard Classroom Dept.: Dad demonstrates basic hydrodynamics in his family’s aboveground pool. [more]

It’s an unusual lesson, but the fun just can’t be beat.

Stating the Obvious Dept.: News item highlights five reasons swimming is the all-time best exercise. [more]

And it’s not all that hard to think of at least a dozen more!

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Super Vision

David Tisherman is the archetypal ‘stickler for details,’ a characteristic he demonstrated back in April 2001 while arguing in favor of what he perceives as an all-encompassing construction-site need. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Updated Wireless Handheld Remote from Hayward

Hayward Pool Products (Elizabeth, NJ) has unveiled AquaPod 2.0, a wireless, handheld remote that now features a 4.3-inch touchscreen interface and an over-molded sealed design. Waterproof and rechargeable, the units offer intuitive control of pools, spas and other outdoor features from inside the home, out in the backyard or even in the water. For details, click here.

HaddonStone Manufactures Triple-Ball Fountain

HaddonStone (USA) Ltd. (Pueblo, CO) makes a triple-ball fountain for gardens and landscapes. With its contemporary styling, the cast-stone system is available five colors (Portland, Bath, terracotta, slate and coade) and comes as a kit that includes a pump, plumbing fixtures and a basin pool. (The glass beads are not supplied.) For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Setting the
Stage for Growth

If there’s one thing we’ve all learned in the past 20-odd years, it’s that the decision to purchase a watershape of any kind is a process that takes years from initial idea to installation. That’s why a web forum like the WaterShapes Professional Network is so important: It give homeowners and decision-makers an easy, anonymous way to gather information and, eventually, reach out and make contact with professionals whose work they admire. Click here to check it out — and get ready for your future!

The Network is growing: Time to climb aboard?

2016/4.1, April 6 — Readable Water, Pond-Plant Shake-Ups, Cost-Cut Guidance and more

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

April 6, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

Painting in Water

When Stephen Pevnick flips the switch to animate one of his amazing installations, the ability of water to communicate moves from the abstract to the literal in a hurry. Here’s a look at how one of these displays helped a company set the tone for a key inspirational event. [more]

SPRING CLEANING

Plant Practicalities

Knowing that aquatic plants are the heart and soul of a watergarden’s visual appeal, Eric Triplett always takes the time during annual maintenance chores to size up the current look and, as he discusses in this video, do what he can to keep things familiar — but fresh as well. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Keys to Cost Reduction

With any aquatic facility more than a few years old, it’s easy to assist the owners and operators in finding ways to save money. All it takes is some inside knowledge of current expense factors, writes Mike Fowler — and a laptop computer set up with some very helpful software. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Making a Mountain Haven

For decades, landscape artist Martin Mosko has specialized in designing and installing highly customized watershapes and landscapes that harmonize with their environments. In this project, the client asked him to create a high-altitude paradise that would make the most of its dramatic surroundings — and Mosko responded with a pool, pond, stream and waterfall complex in which everything seems absolutely right at home.

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

TRAVELOGUE

Urban Statements

Citygarden, a shimmering downtown park filled with art, dynamic spaces and an array of waterfeatures, is one of St. Louis’ crown jewels. It’s a place Kerry Friedman of Hydro Dramatics urges you to visit the next time your travels take you to the Gateway to the West. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Resonance

Is modern society moving forward in ways that will be favorable to the future of watershaping? That’s a question Jim McCloskey has discussed in several recent blogs — and wraps up here by balancing genuine concern with a measured dose of his persistent optimism. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Perfect Child Dept.: This five-year-old came to the rescue when her mother had a seizure in their pool. [more]

Any questions about the value of early swimming skills?

Odd Fluidity Dept.: A music event in Orlando is to feature a seven-foot fountain flowing with Velveeta. [more]

Details are lacking, but the photo alone says too much.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Powers of Observation

When she wrote her Natural Companions column in April 2006, Stephanie Rose entered the fray in a discussion deeply woven into the fabric of WaterShapes from its very first issue in 1999. [more]

THE SHOPPING CART

Basecrete USA Offers Waterproofing Materials

Basecrete USA (Sarasota, FL) has developed an all-in-one cementitious waterproofing membrane and bondcoat. Featuring high adhesive qualities, the material is a unique blend of polymers and specialized cement that remains flexible, so it withstands movement in the underlying concrete structure, particularly in suspended or rooftop pools and spas. For details, click here.

Stone Forest Offers Large Wabi Basins

Stone Forest (Santa Fe, NM) takes natural boulders, slices them in two, carves out a basin and then polishes the top surface to create a contrast with the weathered sides of the boulder — a great companion to a bamboo water spout or, when drilled, a cool, bubbling fountain. The basins are made of green granite and have widths ranging from 24 to 34 inches. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Gaining
Attention —
and Leads!

The senior members of the WaterShapes Professional Network have done well so far, averaging nearly 400 views and generating nearly 100 click-throughs apiece to their own web sites. Even the newest members are doing well, averaging about 130 views and more than 40 click-throughs. And this is happening before all members have set up the reciprocal links between their sites and WPN that will really make things hop.

The Network is growing: Time to climb aboard?

2016/3.2, March 16 — Three-Headed Ambition, Fountain Rehab, Pond Upgrade and more

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

March 16, 2016 www.watershapes.com

FEATURE ARTICLE

A Different Drum

It’s an unusual arrangement, but the three partners in Tributary figured they could serve a vastly broadened geographic base by pooling their firms’ design capabilities — and by using digital technology to eliminate distance as a barrier to their innovative form of collaboration. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Happy, Healthy and Safe

It would be great if Koi could be be placed in any old pond and thrive. But as this video from Mike Gannon relates, these beautiful fish have some very specific needs — needs that often require taking a fresh approach if the goal is introducing them to an existing pondscape. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

A Technicolor Pageant

Any watershaper’s visit to Denver should, as Jim McCloskey suggests here, involve a stop at the downtown lake where a painstakingly restored 100-year-old fountain puts on a beautifully illuminated, nimbly choreographed show that’s as awesome now as it was in 1908. [more]

ESSENTIAL

Floating Fascination

Within the broader specialty of fountain design, fabrication and construction, the art of designing and installing self-contained floating fountains for ponds, rivers and lakes might best be seen as a similar but separate technical specialization — as an art within an art. Here, veteran designer Richard Van Seters explores this unique niche, using his experience and insights to pull back the veil on a type of watershaping that is unlike any other.

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

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Planning for a Rainy Day

A good cloudburst can make a real mess of things — a fact brought home to Scott Cohen when an unexpected torrent combined with some ill-advised trenching to flood a client’s living room. Here’s a look at what happened and, more important, how it might have been avoided. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Time (Mostly) Well Spent

While surfing the web, Jim McCloskey usually has to steel himself when he sees one of the large-scale pool-photo compilations discussed here. But in this case, past experience was no guide: He quickly relaxed and, despite a quibble or two, truly enjoyed the scenery. [more]

WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .

Time Well Spent Dept.: Canadian frat boys soak in hot tub for 100 hours to raise money for medical research. [more]

And no, it’s not about finding the cure for pruney skin.

Biblical Effects Dept.: Man walks (or, more accurately, runs) on the water of an ordinary U.K. pool. [more]

He succeeded after a friend failed. The legend grows.

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Quality Don’t Come Easy

A classic business issue was on Brian Van Bower’s mind back in 2001 when he wrote his column. Click here to see if you think it’s still a topic worthy of consideration and discussion 15 years later.

THE SHOPPING CART

Hayward Pool Products Unveils Pressure Cleaner

Hayward Pool Products (Elizabeth, NJ) announces the new TriVac 700 pressure cleaner for swimming pools. With top-skimming and bottom/wall cleaning modes, the cleaner captures both floating and sunken debris in its large filter bag. The unit also features the company’s AquaDrive propulsion system to quickly cover pools of any size or shape. For details, click here.

EasyPro Pond Products Offers Solar-Powered Aerators

EasyPro Pond Products (Grant, MI) supplies solar-powered aeration systems for pond applications. Easy to install, quiet and dependable, the units come in models that work with ponds ranging up to three acres and come with solar panels and a mounting pole; a compressor, cooling fan and pressure gauge; weighted tubing and diffusers. For details, click here.

WPN UPDATE

Collective
Influence

The rationale for banding together in an web network is simple: By creating a mass of companies, every single 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 systems. This leads to more exposure, more leads, more clicks, more prospective clients.

To see what this kind of community looks like, click here.

The Network is growing: Isn’t it about time to climb aboard?