construction

Civic Achievement: James van Sweden’s Platinum Standard Project
In December 2004, WaterShapes introduced ‘The Platinum Standard,’ a registry of projects that embodies watershaping…
Superlatives on Deck: Brian Van Bower’s Platinum Standard Project
In December 2004, WaterShapes introduced ‘The Platinum Standard,’ a registry of projects that embodies watershaping…
Architectural Grace: Roberto Burle Marx’s Platinum Standard Project
In December 2004, WaterShapes introduced ‘The Platinum Standard,’ a registry of projects that embodies watershaping…
An Elevated Thrill: Nate Reynolds’ Platinum Standard Project
In December 2004, WaterShapes introduced ‘The Platinum Standard,’ a registry of projects that embodies watershaping…
The Wilds of Whimsy: Colleen Holmes’ Platinum Standard Project
In December 2004, WaterShapes introduced ‘The Platinum Standard,’ a registry of projects that embodies watershaping…
Eclectic Edge: Ben Dozier’s Platinum Standard Project
In December 2004, WaterShapes introduced ‘The Platinum Standard,’ a registry of projects that embodies watershaping…
A Cityscape Reborn: Claire Kahn Tuttle’s Platinum Standard Project
In December 2004, WaterShapes introduced ‘The Platinum Standard,’ a registry of projects that embodies watershaping…
All the Right Angles
Every once in a while, a project comes along that gives you a chance to step up and demonstrate your company’s capabilities. The construction of the swimming pool seen here was just that kind of exercise for our firm.  Located in Potomac, Md., the property is just west of Washington, D.C., in an exclusive neighborhood remarkable for the outstanding caliber and quantity of its watershaping and landscaping projects.  We became involved here through a custom homebuilder who was remodeling the property and wanted to do something special in the backyard.    This represents a perfect example of how our firm, Alpine Pool & Design of Annandale, Va., thrives in this market.  Through the years, we had already worked not only with the homebuilder, but also with the architect as well as the landscape architect.  When it came time to consider watershape construction, all three recommended us for the job – testimony to the fact that ever since we opened shop in 1986, we’ve done all we can to establish a reputation for high-value collaboration as part of a community of like-minded designers and contractors. We pride ourselves on being able to execute the most challenging designs and
When Dreams Grow
Some clients don’t know any limits when it comes to their ambitions – and that’s certainly been true in this case.   His mountain-sized home is set on a relatively flat four-acre parcel in otherwise hilly Ramona, Calif.  The client himself describes the building as looking like a casino, and indeed it does have a decidedly “eclectic” architectural look.  What he wanted was a backyard to match – a free-wheeling composition that might best be described as a Tommy Bahama-inspired tropical resort.   He let me know that the family
Moving Over the Edge
As we discussed last month, perimeter-overflow details are among the most distinctive and challenging of all features in today’s custom pool market.   In March’s column, we defined the different types of these edge designs, then described the complex, exacting process of building a knife-edge overflow system.  This time, we’ll get into the hydraulic finesse needed to make these systems work.  This includes everything from calculating bather surges to sizing the plumbing and surge tanks needed to make these effects function