2013/3.2, March 20 — A Costa Rican Edge, Buying a Pool, a Great Japanese Garden and more

March 20, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Floating on Sunshine

Set high on the bluffs overlooking Costa Rica’s Pacific shoreline, this composition in water, tile and spectacular vanishing-edge drama is his best work to date, asserts watershaper Joan Roca. When it first appeared on the magazine’s cover late in 2005, it was still under construction. Now it is complete, he says, which leads him to share new images of this masterpiece of modern design and high-caliber watershaping.

This article, originally published in March 2006, has been digitized for all readers. Once you click ‘more’ on the next screen, you can zoom in on images to study the craftsmanship in detail. [click here to continue]

FEATURE ARTICLE

A Pool-Buyer’s Guide, Part 1

Buying a pool shouldn’t be a casual process, observes Paolo Benedetti. Here, in the first of two articles on the subject, he advises that reaching the best possible outcome takes persistence, homework — and a clear ambition to build a solid information base. [more]

WHAT IS IT?

#4: Mastic Joints

Mike Farley keeps his ears open when talking with homeowners about their projects, and the result is brief videos (including this one) in which he answers their often-unusual questions. But who would ever think that humble mastic joints would be the subject of curiosity? [more]

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

Liquid Layering

In his designs, Steve Oliver finds steady inspiration in the grandeur of water as it flows from one level to another. Here, he uses an array of vanishing edges and gentle cascades to enhance views from an art-enriched home high on the rim of the Arizona desert. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Media Sensations

When the latest issue of a regional consumer-awareness magazine crossed his desk, Jim McCloskey cringed — but soon discovered that the article on pool construction and service made sensible points after taking the usual obligatory swipes at the industry’s rough image. [more]

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

The archives of all items run in Across the Internet and Aquatic Health, Fitness & Safety are now available — a treasure trove of odd and interesting information you can share with your contacts. We roam the web to find this stuff so you don’t have to! [click here for a test drive]

Kmart in Hot Water!

Shark in Swimming Pool Dies
During Ad Shoot for Retail Giant

[more]

TRAVELOGUE

Beauty Within Reach

In Jim McCloskey‘s 50-plus years of exploring his home town’s highways and byways, he’s come across some underappreciated Los Angeles gems — including this amazing garden sanctuary located just a short distance away from two major freeways. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

The Architect Connection

When he wrote this article in March 2008, architect Greg Danskin saw that watershaping was well on its way to becoming an independent design discipline — and offered some timely advice to ease the transition. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Superstar U.S. Olympic Swimmer

Ryan Lochte Has TV Reality Show

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. Beginning on April 21, U.S. Olympic swimming champion Ryan Lochte will have a reality show on the E! television network. What will the program be called?

a. “What Would Ryan Lochte Do?” b. “What Makes Ryan Swim?”

c. “Ryan Lochte: All Wet and Lovin’ It!” d. “Speed Swimming with Ryan Lochte.”

2. A lone sea creature has been spotted swimming up New York’s East River – and of this writing, it appears to be healthy and doing well. What creature was seen?

a. Shark b. Whale c. Dolphin d. Manatee.

3. Legendary open-water swimmer Petar Stoychev – who has won world swimming championships, participated in four Olympic Games and been inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame – has been named Sport Minister of his native Eastern European country. What country is Stoychev from?

a. Albania b. Romania c. Serbia d. Bulgaria.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2013/3.1, March 6 — The Nortorious ‘Red Pool,’ Habitats for Turtles, Plumbing Tips and more

March 6, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Splashes of Color

Of all the projects he’s pursued in the past few years, says David Tisherman, he can’t easily think of another that rivals the achievement of this one with respect to balance, color, harmony or sheer energy. The key words here, he adds, are color and energy, with one flowing irresistibly from the other in a reinvigorated backyard that was once drab, uninteresting and crowded with an old pool that just didn’t fit with its surroundings.

This article, originally published in October 2002, has been digitized for all readers. Once you click ‘more’ on the next screen, you can zoom in on images to study the craftsmanship in detail. [click here to continue]

PONDCRAFT

Ponds on the Level

The key to enjoying a backyard pond, says Hollye Merton, is finding ways to minimize maintenance. Here, in the first of three articles, she covers one of these areas and what it takes to maintain the water at the right level without having to lug a bucket or drag over a hose. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Turtle Heaven

When it comes to supporting wildlife, most ponds serve naturally as all-purpose ecosystems. But if turtles are a desired part of the picture, notes Eric Triplett, there are some very specific design features that must be included to keep these fascinating critters happy. [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Water Under Pressure

Successful plumbing design for watershapes is all about understanding the relationship between water flow and line velocity, says Steve Gutai. Once you have a good grasp of these factors, selecting the right pipes for the job boils down to reading charts and attending to details. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Sharing Travelers’ Tales

Travel is broadening, notes Jim McCloskey, which is why he devotes so much space in WaterShapes EXTRA to getting readers out on the road. Now he wants to open the dialogue and encourage others to share their experiences and identify great watershapes he’s never seen. [more]

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

The monumental process of making all of the back issues of WaterShapes available online continues on a daily basis — and so far the issues from 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 have all been prepared for readers. To see everything that’s been prepared for review, please click here.

Amazing . . . Thrilling . . . Inspiring!

Artist Explores the Ocean in
An Underwater Wheelchair

[more]

TRAVELOGUE

A Seaside Classic

Some objects or places have a unique ability to capture the mood and essence of a time and place. The pool at Miami’s Raleigh Hotel is one of them, writes Brian Van Bower — a reflection of the lifestyle that has made South Florida a magnet for starlets and stargazers alike. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Making Meadows

Lawns can be beautiful, says Bruce Zaretsky, but in times of drought there are alternatives to consider — including the wonderfully naturalistic approach he discussed in his monthly column in March 2008. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Swimmer Killed in Horrific
Shark Attack Near Beach

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. In a horrific and tragic incident, a swimmer was killed recently by a great white shark — estimated to be 12-to-14 feet in length — right off a popular beach in which country?

a. Australia b. New Zealand c. Maldives d. Sri Lanka.

2. Despite what Hollywood has sometimes portrayed, shark attacks against humans are extremely rare. Approximately how many such attacks take place each year around the world, and about how many fatalities result from them?

a. 10 attacks worldwide, causing five fatalities

b. 100 attacks worldwide, causing 25 fatalities

c. 500 attacks worldwide, causing 40 fatalities

d. 1,000 attacks worldwide, causing 150 fatalities.

3. According to the latest research, how many sharks do commercial fishermen kill each year?

a. 10,000 b. 100,000 c. 1 million d. 100 million.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2013/2.2, February 20 — Eco-Sensitive Design, A Pond’s Value, Seattle’s Best Fountain and more

February 20, 2013             www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Mastering the Greens

Creating watershapes and landscapes that are natural in appearance is always a challenge, says Ken Alperstein of Pinnacle Design, a firm that specializes in high-end projects related to top-flight golf courses. For this project in Shady Canyon, however, the ante was upped considerably by the site’s location in an environmentally sensitive coastal canyon in southern California — a design challenge intensified by regulatory scrutiny every step of the way.

This article, originally published in December 2006, has been digitized for all readers. Once you click ‘more’ on the next screen, you can zoom in on images to study the craftsmanship in detail. [click here to continue]

PONDCRAFT

Valuing Ponds

Even a small backyard pond plays a role as part of a greater regional ecology, notes Ed Beaulieu. That makes it easy to take pride in a personal watergarden — and to see the importance of taking care of it for the benefit of plants, fish, frogs, birds and other creatures. [more]

WHAT IS IT?

#3: Finger Ledge

Modern pools and spas come complete with a range of safety features, observes Mike Farley. In some cases, their function is obvious; in others, however, they’re subtle enough to need a bit of explaining — as he demonstrates a brief, informative video. [more]

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

Cooling the Flock

Boston’s First Church of Christ, Scientist, is widely known for its original design, but its appeal also has to do with the spontaneous child’s play that has developed through the years courtesy of a deck-level fountain devised by landscape architects John Copley and Lynn Wolff. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Lessons All Around

The National Swimming Pool Foundation has developed another great program, observes Jim McCloskey — this one with the American Red Cross. The idea, he writes, is one that enables pool and spa designers and builders to perform an affordable good deed for their clients. [more]

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

Every other week, the Features and Articles sections on WaterShapes.com’s home page [click here] are refreshed with content drawn from our vast archives. Starting in April 2013, these rotations will occur weekly– so we’ll be putting even more valuable information within easy reach!

After He Dove In . . .

Louie Anderson Rescued
From Reality Series Pool

[more]

TRAVELOGUE

World’s Fountain

No tourist’s visit to Seattle is complete without stopping by to see the Space Needle, writes Jim McCloskey — but that’s mainly because right nearby you’ll find the sublime International Fountain, now considerably updated and much improved since its 1962 debut. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

On the Verge

Back in 2008, David Tisherman used his Details column to define a thoughtful, ambitious approach to pool coping and decking. It offered a glimpse into his design process that has value to this day. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Czech Supermodel Eva Herzigova
Poses Nude in Pool for Ad Campaign

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late – including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. Czech superstar model Eva Herzigova has been photographed nude in a swimming pool for an ad campaign promoting shoe designer Brian Atwood’s spring/summer collection. The photo-shoot reportedly was inspired by the late Marilyn Monroe’s cavorting naked in a pool for a movie scene. Unfortunately,the 1962 film was never completed or released due to her untimely death. What movie was it?

a. “Something’s Got to Give” b. “Some Like It Hot”

c. “The Prince and the Showgirl” d. “His Kind of Woman.”

2. Officials at a public aquarium have fitted 27 different models of prosthetic flippers on a 227-pound loggerhead turtle – an endangered species – that was severely injured in a shark attack. Although the latest version was initially thought to be a success, it hasn’t worked out either. Still, the aquarium’s warm-hearted staff members vow to continue trying. Where is the aquarium?

a. Acapulco, Mexico b. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

c. Barcelona, Spain d. Kobe, Japan.

3. Payton, a horse living in Terre Haute, Indiana, wandered away from her owner’s home and fell into the frigid water of a neighbor’s pool. Payton started to lose consciousness but eventually was rescued and is doing fine. What was likely a significant factor in the horse’s mishap?

a. Payton has severe arthritis. b. Payton is extremely old.

c. Payton is blind. d. Payton was spooked by a backfiring car.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2013/2.1, February 6 — A Natural Hybrid, Tips on ‘Green’ Watershaping, Pond Shaving and more

February 6, 2013          www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Planting a Pool

Plants and swimming pools go together beautifully, says watershaper James Robyn, particularly when a pool is flanked by a gorgeous stream and pond. And as he observes in discussing a recent project that included participation of master watergardener Anthony Archer Wills, it gets even more interesting when you set things up in such a way that the all of the systems can be combined into one fully functional ‘natural pool’ in the future.

This article, originally published in January 2011, has been digitized for all readers. Once you click ‘more’ on the next screen, you can zoom in on images to study the craftsmanship in detail. [click here to continue]

VIDEO GALLERY

A Winter Pond Workout

Pond expert Mike Gannon knows that watergardens built in cold climates require a certain amount of attention in the course of a long winter. In fact, they sometimes summon their owners outdoors to engage in what can become a strenuous cold-weather workout. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Watershaping, Green-Style

Lots of his clients are after Scott Cohen to think ‘green’ in designing their watershapes these days — a reality that’s led him to explore eco-friendly options including everything from dark interior finishes and insulating covers to solar-powered pumps and heating systems. [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Tank Command

Surge tanks may end up being out of sight, notes hydraulics expert Steve Gutai, but they should never be out of mind as you strive for efficiency and reliability in any water-in-transit system that calls for their use. Here’s a look at keys to success with these installations. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Real-World Watershaping

Recent headlines testify to the fact that elaborate watershapes sometimes need attention — a notion that leads Jim McCloskey to think serviceability and wonder aloud if designs are getting so intricate that they’re becoming too difficult to maintain or repair. [more]

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

Last week, we completed the monumental task of archiving all of our WaterShapes EXTRA e-newsletters in close to their original form. We have more work to do in organizing access to them, but do click here for a sneak preview.

Lost Arms, Legs in Iraq

U.S. Soldier Eager to Swim
After Double Arm Transplant

[click here for more — and a special offer!]

TRAVELOGUE

Memory Lane

The last time he was in Pittsburgh, Jim McCloskey saw a dancing fountain performing where, years earlier, there had been nothing more than a gaping hole in the ground that would eventually become PPG Plaza. Here’s a look at this now-complete, most visit-worthy space. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Finding Touchstones

Back in February 2008, Brian Van Bower wrote passionately about professional specialization, personal style and design signatures. Have you chosen your own path — or is that even a good idea? [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

U.S. Marine Corps Water Survival
Instructor Explains S.A.F.E. Plan

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late – including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. Sgt. Trevor McLaren, a Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival, recently explained the corps’ four-point S.A.F.E. plan, which is designed to help Marines stay alive in the water even while carrying heavy gear. Which one of the following is not really part of the plan?

a. S – Slow and Easy Movements b. A – Apply Natural Buoyancy

c. F – Full Lung Inflation d. E – Exhale Completely.

2. It has been announced that the 2013 International Paralympic Committee Swimming World Championships will be held in what Canadian city?

a. Toronto b. Montreal c. Vancouver d. Winnipeg.

3. The driver of a large yellow school bus in one Texas city lost control of the vehicle, hit a utility pole, crashed through a fence and wound up straddling the pool at a nearby motel. (Luckily, there were no children onboard at the time.) Where did the mishap take place?

a. Dallas b. Houston c. San Antonio d. El Paso.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

</ mySpace

2013/1.2, January 23 — Desert Delights, Weathering Winter, Self-Contained Wall Fountains and more

January 23, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Completely Contemporary

Taking great pride in developing watershape and landscape designs that combine an appreciation for the setting with an understanding of the clients’ tastes, Roger and Sheri Soares have prospered for years on the high end of the hotly competitive Phoenix marketplace. In this project, they took advantage of spectacular views, blended their work into a hillside and worked out all the harmonic links between the desert and the home’s modern style.

This article, originally published in June 2005, has been digitized for all readers. Once you click ‘more’ on the next screen, you can zoom in on images to study the craftsmanship in detail. [continue]

PONDCRAFT

Weathering the Winter

Ponds can be at their beautiful best over the winter, notes Brian Helfrich — hence his desire here to offer a few simple steps that will keep them running for the duration. It takes some effort, he concedes, but the spectacle of frozen waterfalls and streams makes it all worthwhile. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Sound Stage

When asked to set up an antique wall fountain, Randy Beard did his client the favor of looking at it as a full-scale watershape. As this video demonstrates, a basic bit of plumbing and some attention to detail makes short work of what all-too-often proves to be an ongoing chore. [more]

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

Up on Rocky Top

Even for a firm that specializes in big natural-stone watershapes, this project was huge. Working for an enthusiastic client, the staff at Glacier, Inc., stepped well beyond the usual in renovating a 78-acre private lake while also creating a stone stream and waterfall. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

What’s Wrong with This Picture?

While surfing the web, Jim McCloskey spotted a story on a pool being built in Texas that triggered a flood of thoughts on the places we swim. Why is it, he asks, that so few public pools are being built these days, even in places experiencing tremendous population growth? [more]

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

Advertising is what keep this newsletter and our web site open and available to all users. Our simple click system lets our sponsors know that you appreciate the information we offer — and recognize and appreciate their support for us! Click here for an example.

InteriorDesign.net:

London Olympic Aquatics
Centre ‘Most-Hard-to-Miss’

[click here for more — and a special offer!]

TRAVELOGUE

A Fountain Revised

When the 12 acres of Grand Park were dedicated in downtown Los Angeles last year, observes Jim McCloskey, the key to it all was a renovated fountain now accompanied by a spacious splash deck. It’s definitely worth a visit — especially on a warm, sunny day. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Sustaining Quality

Five years ago, sustainability was a fairly novel subject among watershapers — so Bruce Zaretsky jumped right in to tell it like it was (and is) with respect to local sourcing, recycling and taking responsibility. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

MTV: Rambunctious ‘Rednecks’ Create

Swimming Pool from Unlikely Vehicle

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late – including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. “Buckwild,” a new MTV reality series, features a group of rambunctious West Virginia “rednecks” in their 20s who – among other things – turn what vehicle into a swimming pool?

a. An old school bus b. An abandoned boat

c. A used dump truck d. A derelict railroad caboose.

2. Which U.S. Olympic swimming champion is about to get his or her own TV reality show, starting in April?

a. Michael Phelps b. Ryan Lochte c. Missy Franklin d. Mark Spitz.

3. A U.K. businessman is planning to covert an empty warehouse in Portishead,a small coastal town in southwest England, into a facility with an indoor swimming pool and café. The pool will be aimed at serving which specific group of people?

a. Babies and toddlers b. Senior citizens

c. Moslems d. The physically challenged.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

</ mySpace

2013/1.1, January 9 — Framing Perspectives, Eco-Friendly Landscaping, Rockefeller Plaza and more

January 9, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Making Frames

To Colorado pond/stream specialist Dave Garton, a certain ‘flexible responsiveness’ is the quality of utmost importance in all of his watershape designs. It’s an approach, he says, that calls for a keen understanding both of the setting and of what makes his clients tick — a dual awareness he puts on eloquent display here in discussing how he maximizes the personal appeal of his designs even as he works across a broad range of project types and styles. This article, originally published in May 2009, has been digitized for all readers. Once you click ‘more’ on the next screen, you can zoom in on images to study the craftsmanship in detail. [continue]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Landscapes Go Green

More and more often these days, Scott Cohen encounters clients who want him to take a ‘green’ approach to their backyards and incorporate a variety of eco-friendly concepts and strategies into their projects. Here’s how he gets the ideas rolling. [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Making Connections

From waterparks to pools and spas, great watershaping is largely about the plumbing that makes these systems work. As Steve Gutai attests, there’s nothing more fundamental to hydraulic success than securing all pipes, fittings and components in the right connections. [more]

WHAT IS IT?

#2: Vanishing Edge

Vanishing-edge designs are among the most popular of all watershape possibilities, notes Mike Farley, but that doesn’t mean clients really understand their features or how they work. That’s why he prepared this brief video to answer their most common questions. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Tackling the New Year

On the first day of 2013, Jim McCloskey did something he’d never dreamed of doing before — and it set the stage for a quick meditation on open-mindedness and stepping beyond the limits we impose on ourselves in both our private and professional lives. [more]

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

Go to the PRODUCTS button on the home page and pull down to Of Interest — your key to detailed information on the latest in watershaping products and services and all the information you need to make the right buying decisions. [for a shortcut, click here]

Audience Floats in Boats
‘Life of Pi’ Paris Premiere
Held at Iconic Indoor Pool

[click here for more — and a special offer!]

TRAVELOGUE

New York’s Heart

Whenever he travels to New York City, Jim McCloskey has always made a point of visiting the Prometheus Fountain at Rockefeller Plaza. He describes it as a great and calming space in the midst of a teeming metropolis — especially so when the city’s at its busiest. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

The Main Ingredient

All watershapers should be conscious of one big thing, noted Brian Van Bower in January 2003 — that is, the profound role water plays in our lives and the distinctive benefits of which we all should take advantage. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Scientists Vindicate Phelps,
Lochte on Pool Urination

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late – including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. Following the 2012 London Olympic Games, U.S. swimming champions Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte both revealed they urinated in the Olympics training pool — and they asserted there was nothing wrong with the practice. That assertion has been validated by the organization Sense About Science (SAS), at least when it comes to health concerns. Each year, SAS “challenges and examines scientific claims made by celebrities to prevent inaccurate information [from] gaining public acceptance….” Why did the group say Phelps and Lochte were right?

          a.   In a large pool, a single urination is just “a drop in the bucket.”
          b.   Urine — a combination of salts and water, with moderate amounts of protein and DNA
breakdown products — is essentially sterile.
          c.   Chlorine in the pool prevents bacteria from growing anyway.
          d.   All of the above.

2. Despite several attempts – her most recent at age 63 – American open-water distance swimming legend Diana Nyad has failed to achieve her dream of swimming from Cuba to Florida without benefit of a shark cage. Now 27-year-old Chloe McCardel, also an accomplished open-water distance swimmer, has announced her intention to attempt the same feat in 2013. What country is McCardel from?

a. Canada b. New Zealand c. Australia d. Ireland.

3. Openwaterswimming.com has conducted a survey to determine the number of people engaged in open-water distance swimming. How many professional open-water distance swimmers are there in the world, according to the survey results?

a. 379 (203 males and 176 females) b. 491 (300 males and 191 females)
c. 785 (395 males and 390 females) d. None of the above.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2012/12.2, December 19 — Integrated Hillside, Reindeer-Proof Holidays, Legorreta’s Aqueduct and more

December 19, 2012 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Emotional Foundations

At their best, say landscape artists and educators Cynthia and Gary Kinman, watershape and landscape design and construction are integrated reflections of the clients’ personalities and desires — and even their feelings about family and life itself. A case in point is the huge project profiled here, in which the pair used their technical skill, patience and personal ideals to transform a steep, forbidding hillside into a client-centered celebration.

This article, originally published in July 2006, has been digitized for all readers. Once you click ‘more’ on the next screen, you can zoom in on images to study the craftsmanship in detail. [continue]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Reindeer-Proof Holidays

The holiday season is a time for caring and sharing, observes Scott Cohen — but feeding Santa’s reindeer (or regular deer) when they stop by is asking just a bit too much. Here are some timely planting suggestions that will help guide them elsewhere. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Imported Genius

Downtown Los Angeles is in the process of filling up with interesting attractions, notes Jim McCloskey, but that shouldn’t mean overlooking the early-1990s version of Pershing Square, which features an amazing watershape by Ricardo Legorreta. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Koi Pond, Revisited

It’s almost routine, notes Mike Gannon: More and more often, he and his crews are being called in to renovate and expand clients’ existing ponds. Here’s a look at one such project — along with some written advice on what to do with the fish displaced by the process. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Gearing Up

The year now passing into the history books has been an eventful one for the WaterShapes franchise, writes Jim McCloskey. And it’s all a prelude to spectacular things in 2013 and beyond — as you’ll see in this brief preview of coming attractions. [more]

RIPPLES

What was the #1 item?
Celebrating the Top 10
Ripples Stories of 2012 [more]

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

Striking a Chord

These four acres of rocks, plants and water were assembled by landscape artist and Japanese-garden specialist David Slawson, who combines sensitivity to the site and the character of the client with the beauty of indigenous rock and plant materials. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Stepping Up

Five years ago, Brian Van Bower observed that landscape designers and architects were gravitating toward the water to an unprecedented degree. Are the still on the move? [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

New Details on Famous JFK
Ocean Swim Photo Revealed

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late – including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. A U.S. newspaper recently published new information about a famous photograph – which appeared on its front page in August 1962 – of President John F. Kennedy after he went swimming in the ocean. The bare-chested, dripping-wet president was surrounded on the beach by an adoring crowd (including one woman in a polka-dot bikini who caught his eye). Where did JFK go for a swim?

a. Miami Beach, Fla. b. Coney Island, N.Y. c. Santa Monica, Calif. d. Corpus Christi, Tex.

2. Officials in the Stroud District Council in Gloucestershire, England, plan to dye the water in a public pool a certain color and hold a special event (swimming the equivalent of the width of the English Channel) to raise money for a good cause. What is the color and what is the cause?

a. Red – AIDS research b. Pink – a breast cancer charity
c. Green – an environmental organization d. Yellow – bladder cancer research.

3. USA Swimming has placed a lifetime ban on 20-year-old swimmer Adrian Ghandtchi, from Altamonte Springs, Fla. What was the reason for the ban?

        a.   He committed felony battery against a minor.
        b.   He shoplifted merchandise from a department store.
        c.   He failed a drug test right before a competition.
        d.   He turned out not to be an American citizen.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

</ mySpace

2012/12.1, December 5 — Water and Sculpture, Rain Fall Features, The Magic Fountain and more

December 5, 2012 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Forms and Figures

Water and works of art have been near-constant companions for millennia, but that traditional pairing now seems to be generating fresh enthusiasm, says watershape designer/builder Randy Beard, with more and more property owners seeking to make unique statements by putting artworks on display in and around water. He takes a look at this emerging trend here, using a number of his recent projects in southern California to illustrate the point.

This article, originally published in July 2008, has been digitized for all readers. Once you click ‘more’ on the next screen, you can zoom in on images to study the craftsmanship in detail. [continue]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Untangling Backyard Battles

The couples he works with sometimes bring unresolved design conflicts to the table. Some are minor, observes Scott Cohen, but others can run a project off the rails if the designer isn’t prepared to work with both clients and move through the skirmishes in positive ways. [more]

WHAT IS IT?

Video #1: Rain Fall

Through the years, Mike Farley‘s clients have peppered him with questions about their new watershapes. Now he saves himself a bit of time by referring them to a video resource he’s developing to aid not only his own clients, but also anyone else who can use the information. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Feeling Grateful

It’s the time of year when expressing gratitude is the order of the day, writes Jim McCloskey. That’s why he’s taking this opportunity to give thanks and praise to the many watershapers who’ve helped make our transition from print to digital go so much more smoothly. [more]

RIPPLES

Amazing Pool Rescue!

WHEELCHAIR-BOUND WOMAN SAVES SENIOR SWIMMER [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

The Skinny on Skimmers

Set up properly, a skimmer steadily does its job of removing debris from the water’s surface — a low-key but important role, observes Steve Gutai, who continues his series on basic watershape hydraulics here with a look at the function and proper installation of these devices. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Spanish Rhapsody

Barcelona’s a special place, writes Jim McCloskey, and benefited greatly from the effort that went into preparing the city for the 1992 Olympics. A case in point is the splendid Magic Fountain of Montjuic, a pioneering watershape and a marvel everyone should see. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Finding the Look

Five years ago, David Tisherman answered to a newspaper reporter’s question by making a case that watershapes were more about art than the technologies in which she was most interested. Was he correct? [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Missy Franklin Reveals Which
College She Plans to Attend

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late – including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. Seventeen-year-old U.S. Olympic swim star Missy Franklin has announced where she plans to attend college and continue her competitive swimming career. In fact, she sent an official letter of intent to the school. Where did she decide to go?

a. UCLA b. UC Berkeley c. University of Arizona d. University of Colorado.

2. An operator of swimming pools across one European country has prohibited women from shaving in the facilities’ showers after other women swimmers complained it made them feel uncomfortable. Which country?

a. Denmark b. France c. The Netherlands d. Sweden.

3. Residents of this national capital have complained about female tourists who wear extremely skimpy swimming attire – including G-string swimsuits – at public pools where children are present. What national capital is it?

a. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia b. Accra, Ghana c. Montevideo, Uruguay d. Windhoek, Namibia.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2012/11.2, November 21 — Rippling Glass, Backyard Battles, Rainwater Harvesting and more

November 21, 2012 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Liquid Glass

The relationship between glass and water can be a powerful one, says John Gilbert Luebtow, a modernist sculptor who uses water to spectacular effect in some of his work. Here, he explores the nature of that relationship while describing three major projects in which the ‘visual dance’ between water and glass is expressed in multi-dimensional shapes and sweeping, organic lines.

This article, originally published in January/February 2001, has been digitized for all readers. Once you click ‘more’ on the next screen, you can zoom in on images to study the craftsmanship in detail. [continue]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Backyard Battles of the Sexes

As the design process begins, writes Scott Cohen, he’s ready for the fact that men and women quite often have conflicting ideas about what they want by way of backyard features and amenities. Here, in the first of two articles on the subject, he takes a look at common points of contention. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Working with Rainwater

It wasn’t all that long ago that rainwater harvesting was a brand-new idea. In a pair of videos, Mike Gannon hearkens back no further than 2008, when he and other pond specialists teamed up with the staff of Aquascape to install the company’s very first system in a Georgia backyard. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Something in the Air?

Maybe it’s the approach of the holiday season, but for whatever reason Jim McCloskey has noticed increased traffic in press releases carrying what can only be described as very good and encouraging news. Are these indications of a fresh direction for the watershaping industry? [more]

RIPPLES

Faster than the Local Ferry!

Italian Politician Swims to

Sicily to Win Over Voters [more]

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

A Mile-High Gallop

Located at the entrance to the home of football’s Denver Broncos, this vertical watershape combines bronze sculptures, cascades, rockwork and landscaping — and all Jim Morris had to do was figure out how to make thearchitects’ grand concept work. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Unusual Grace

Rekindling fond memories of past trips to New Orleans, Jim McCloskey recently revisited its Plaza de Espana — a tribute to long history and a rare place in an otherwise raucous city to enjoy a beautiful fountain, appreciate some gorgeous tile, watch people pass by and just rest up a bit. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Making Light

From the start of all of his projects, wrote Bruce Zaretsky in 2007, he has ideas about one key project feature in mind. Five important years later, is it now an up-front consideration for you, too? [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

What City Held the U.S. Swimming

Trials for the Last Two Olympics?

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late – including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. A number of U.S. cities are expected to vie for the right to hold the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in 2016. What American city held the trials before the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games?

a. San Diego b. Miami c. Omaha d. Atlanta

2. Officials in Gelnhausen, Germany have banned swimmers from performing every stroke except one, claiming that most swim strokes create too many waves – and that, they say, could endanger other swimmers and waste water. What is the one stroke they’re permitting?

a. Breaststroke b. Backstroke c. Sidestroke d. Dog paddle

3. David Graham, a 75-year-old retired Canadian billionaire and former cable TV mogul, wants to dig under his London mansion (estimated worth: $143 million) to install, among other things, a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna and massage room. How many subterranean levels does his plan – which has raised the ire of his neighbors – call for?

a. Three b. Four c. Five d. Six

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2012/11.1, November 7 — Naturalistic Watershaping, Fire Features, Pond Renovation and more

November 7, 2012 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

A Window Into Nature

Microsoft’s corporate campus near Seattle has been the birthplace of much of the world’s most significant consumer-electronics technology. When it came time to adorn the ultramodern facility with a watershape of it own, reports Jon Mitovich, the scope and complexity of the system was intended to reflect the scale and grandeur of the world’s most famous software company — and to fit a circumscribed space as though it had been there from time immemorial.

This article, originally published in February 2003, has been digitized for all readers. Once you click ‘more’ on the next screen, you can zoom in on images to study the craftsmanship in detail. [continue]

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Sizzle of Fire and Water

If your aim is to draw people outdoors, writes Scott Cohen, there’s nothing quite like adding fire to a waterscape. Not only do you get the opportunity to work with dancing reflections, but there’s also the fact that you’re stretching the season by bringing sources of warmth to outdoor spaces. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Starting Fresh

Skilled pond designers and installers are often called upon to deal with the unfortunate results of work done by others, notes Eric Triplett. As this four-part video shows, he and his staff were able in this case to get the pond back in shape — all within its original footprint. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Jumping In

A long-time observer of industry programs intended to call attention to the value of watershapes, Jim McCloskey has taken a special shine to Step Into Swim — a National Swimming Pool Foundation campaign that’s just released a clever video on the importance of learning to swim. [more]

Latest Evidence from Paleontology

Were the Dinosaurs Swimmers?

Crawl, Butterfly or Backstroke? [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Crystalline Clarity

Producing clear, clean water in just about any watershape is essentially a matter of achieving efficient, effective filtration. To get there, writes Steve Gutai, you need to understand the performance characteristics of filter media as well as the nuts and bolts of how filters are installed. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Ready, Set, Goal

Setting and pursuing goals has long been a key to his own success, wrote Brian Van Bower in his ‘Aqua Culture’ column ten years ago. But is goal-setting still a valuable exercise in today’s business environment? [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Canadian Sports Ethics Body

Shortens Ban on Swim Coach

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late – including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) has reduced a lifetime ban on Canadian swim coach Cecil Russell, enabling him to return to coaching as early as 2014. Why was Russell sanctioned in the first place?

a. He molested one of his swimmers

b. He committed an infraction of an antidoping regulation

c. He bet on the outcome of swim meets

d. He lied on his job application

2. What professional troupe of synchronized swimmers was featured on Justin Bieber’s recent music video for the song “Beauty and a Beat”? Hint: They also appeared on “Glee.”

a. Aquabirds b. Aquaroses c. Aqualillies d. Aquabelles

3. It recently was revealed that only an estimated 20% of this major Asian city’s residents know how to swim, in part because there are not enough public swimming lessons available. What city is it?

a. Hong Kong b. Tokyo c. Manila d. Kuala Lumpur

To find out how many you got right, click here.