construction

Elegance Squared
Through the years, I've come across all sorts of clients with unique motivations and interesting available spaces.  My task in collaborating with each of them centers on carefully evaluating the situation, sorting through various sets of possibilities and, ultimately, delivering a design that hits the mark on all possible levels. This project, however, was a bit different from most:  The client had acquired
2016/2.1, February 3 — Acrylic-Panel Spa, Elegant Staging, Pond Duties and more
THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS February 3, 2016 www.watershapes.com FEATURE ARTICLE…
Versa-Lok Offers Harmony Retaining Wall Blocks
Versa-Lok (Oakdale, MN) manufactures Harmony segmental retaining-wall blocks as an economical solution in creating random-pattern…
FlowVis Flow Meters from H2O Flow
H2O Flow (Sylvania, OH) has introduced the FlowVis Flow Meter, an affordable, reliable control device…
Smooth Ambition
Every once in a while, the stars align and we're given the opportunity to pursue and attain perfection in applying glass tile to a beautifully designed and built swimming pool and spa.  The project illustrated here is one such case:  Everything about it just snapped into place. First, we were asked to join the design team at an early stage, so we had a good level of input on how the pool was to be laid out and its interior surfaces formed; second, the watershapes fit
A Flying Start
I'm going to start the New Year by breaking a personal tradition - and I'm going to do it on a grand scale. As I've written in past first-of-the-year blogs, I'm not inclined to make New Year's resolutions for myself, mainly because when I made them in the distant past, it would generally take less than a
Cliff-Top Performance
Working on the road can be tough.  As was discussed in the first of this pair of articles (click here), it can get even rougher when you're working on a cliff in a remote area and have been asked to build a big watershape in a place where all sorts of environmental rules and restrictions apply and there are also plenty of easy-to-upset neighbors. I thought we were ready for all contingencies as we prepared ourselves, the design, the plans, the permits and the site.  I was even prepared to deal with the half-load restrictions imposed to protect thawing
2016/1.1, January 6 — Cliff-Top Success, Bicarb Start-Ups, All-Glass Excellence and more
THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS January 6, 2016 www.watershapes.com FEATURE ARTICLE…
#21: Exposed-Aggregate Decking
This is one of those "What Is It?" items I hesitated to write, mainly because the material and concept behind exposed-aggregate decking is so familiar (and maybe even so old-fashioned) that most of us rarely think of it.  In the case of the poolscape featured in the video linked below, for example, it's possible and maybe even likely
2015/12.2, December 16 — Holiday Fun, Brilliant Mirrors, Old-School Decking and more
THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS December 16, 2015 www.watershapes.com INTERVIEW Santa’s…