Roman Pool

The Crown Jewel of California’s central coast, Hearst Castle is among the most public of all ‘private’ residences on the planet. Its Neptune and Roman pools are among the most photographed, published and familiar watershapes in the world – so prominent that the estate’s brilliant fountains simply don’t get their due. Here, designer and builder Skip Phillips shifts the emphasis a bit, paying tribute to all of Hearst Castle’s watershapes, drop by drop.

The Enchanted Hill

Visiting Hearst Castle is an experience that sticks with you. Long before I became a watershape designer, I know that my childhood visits to this hilltop in Central California inspired and affected my thinking about art and architecture and the creative use of space long before I had any professional interest in those subjects. Every time I go - which is as often as I can - I'm impressed by a collection of art and architecture so rich and varied that I always find something new. For years, I've been amazed by the castle's two pools and their beautiful details, incredible tile and classic style. More recently, however, I've started paying closer attention to the other ways in which water is used on the property - and my appreciation for what I'm seeing grows every time I stop by. A BIT OF HISTORY William Randolph Hearst inherited the 250,000-acre ranch on which the castle was built from his mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst, in 1919. The remote property hadn't seen much development to that point, but he soon began transforming it into a monument to American ambition and his passion for