Outside the Rocks

Eric Herman

Sometimes I like clichés. That’s tough and perhaps treasonous for an editor to admit, but there are certain phrases that truly resonate, and I stand by them for what I think are good reasons.

In recent years, for example, the words “outside the box” have come into all-too-frequent use, so much so that when invoking those words these days, the person saying them really should feel sheepish at the utterance.

But a phrase such as that one is so pervasive, I think, because it really does offer a valuable shorthand suggesting that there’s value in looking beyond the boundaries of concepts and behaviors that define the way things are usually done. It’s much like “nothing ventured, nothing gained” – a cliché, yes, but a worthwhile observation just the same.

There’s an article in this issue (click here) by a fellow who seems to revel in thinking outside the box. Paul Benedetti is a regular WaterShapes contributor, and in this case his discussion highlights the advantages that flow to those who look at things in unconventional ways.

To make his stonework as enduringly beautiful as possible, he looked to suppliers familiar to him in the pool industry – and then took the unusual step of going beyond those resources to find out what architects, homebuilders and stonemasons use in sealing and protecting their work once it’s been installed. That may seem a small thing, but in a pool industry still hemmed in by convention, I see it as a breakthrough to be emulated. And what Paul most wanted to do was add value to his work as a watershaper.

Some of the products he writes about are not to be found at pool or landscape shows, and I admire both his passion and his willingness to take the time to learn about all of them. It may take a bit of digging to keep pace with him as he begins this important series of articles on products used in conjunction with natural stone, but his coverage of the topic, while provocative, is always practical and informative.

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If I might also draw your attention to another article, please take note of “Welcome to Paradise” (click here).

This is, quite simply, one of the most spectacular projects we’ve ever covered in WaterShapes – the tale of the creation of the resort property known as Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas. We’re proud that Steve Kaiser, the man in charge of the resort’s amazing watershapes, has agreed to lead us on a tour of those facilities, and it’s quite a ride.

I want to point out that the watershapes of Atlantis are so involved that they can barely be contained even in this outsized article. More important, however, is recognizing the fact that this high-flown property offers an incredible example of just how powerful watershapes can be, with due credit given to the way water defines the character of what can only be described as one of the world’s most fantastic vacation spots.

It’s a jolt to the spirits of all those who work with water. It’s also fair to say that the folks who developed Atlantis didn’t just think outside the box, they obliterated it completely just to get started.