Greek philosopher Empedocles identified four elements of nature: air, earth, fire and water. This was expanded by others to include space and modern-day yoga often focuses on those five elements to improve health and attain greater knowledge, wisdom and happiness.
Philosophy, mindfulness, meditation, or simple relaxation all have roots in the Five Elements Theory and we can connect to these elements in a single backyard sitting by the swimming pool.
Applied Theory
Immerse yourself in the scene below and you can breathe the fresh air; touch the earth, stone and vegetation; feel the warmth of the fire; reflect upon the natural-looking water; and explore the entire space while gently and peacefully stimulating all of the senses.
The fire elements include a natural rock ring, a small stone urn filled with broken glass, and a pair of rusted bowls that look a bit like large gold-panning dishes.
The stone deck and zero depth entry to this freeform pool invites guests into the water – with their shoes still on!
The palapa provides a focal point and destination in this Poway estate.Conceived as a Hawaiian retreat, the palapa isn’t too far from the bar.Incorporating the same materials as the pool, a stone footrest frames the base of the stucco wall that matches the house.The outdoor kitchen provides plenty of space for hosting large parties.To get the palapa’s posts to the edge of the pool we engineered custom welded baseplates that split the posts like a blade, hidden beneath the rope detail.Fire does not need formal containment. A simple rock outcropping provides plenty of room to sit or elevate your feet at the warmth of the flameThe stone decking gently bends down to create the zero-depth entry, inviting guests into the shallows.The floating steps require a little adventure to find as the path is not immediately noticeable upon entering the yard. Crossing the path and adjacent water feature clears the mind and prepares guests for their relaxing retreat in the palapa.Although extensive electrical lumens were incorporated into the design, the four fire elements continuously dance the flame’s natural light upon the surrounding surfaces. It’s a magical experience that feels a bit like the tiki torches illuminating the paths of a Hawaiian resort.True arcs intersecting at expected tangents result in pleasing natural lines to define the water’s shape.
Have you ever noticed that most advertisements for resorts include the swimming pool? There is a subconscious biological reason for this: Blue Mind. It is the result of great marketing but it only works after great planning has created a winning watershape – a memorable pool that makes guests want to stay for lunch and drinks throughout the day.
We begin our lives in amniotic fluid that is remarkably similar to seawater. Our bodies are made up of about the same amount of water as that which covers Mother Earth (71%). We are attracted to water and when we search for the ideal vacation destination we instinctively pursue resorts with beautiful pools.
Successful resorts require more than just surficial details. Elements and principles of design are tools but they must be applied to the project with a keen sense of expected use and flow of guests entering, interacting with, and leaving the space.
The Villa Resort
For example, a client wished to have one large resort pool but the concept was flawed because the expansive size dividing the property meant that guests had to traverse a long path around the watershape to reach the other side where restaurants and other amenities were located. Additionally, the 4 star resort would likely attract guests without kids and it seemed prudent to have an “adult pool” free of youthful noise and distractions.
The site also had a slight grade to it so we conceived a vanishing edge adult pool 30″ higher than the family pool, separated by a winding wood “bridge” that would also allow guests direct access across and between the two watershapes.
This draft resort concept sketch was developed for a specific site and included several desired features discussed with the clients during the initial kickoff meeting. The primary purposes of this sketch was to open up a more detailed dialog about concepts and details with the client before moving to the schematic design phase of the project.
Plenty of sun-shelves supporting in-pool lounge chairs, multiple hot tubs, arbors and sail sunscreens provided options for relaxing and rejuvenating. A beach entry, sand-bottom wading pool and small waterslide provided hours of entertainment for younger kids as well.
Resort planning begins with a programming document that attempts to list and rank the many competing goals of the project.
This ‘Cabin’ in the Hamptons, with it’s distinctly long cantilevers, demanded an equally dramatic long lap pool. Designed by Jasmit Singh Rangr, founder of Rangr Studio, the bold home is distinguished by clean lines integrated into its site without disturbing anything beyond its footprint. The architectural coordination of the watershape’s design is a perfect match with the home.
The spa sits at the corner of the deck and this vanishing edge pool literally disappears into the forest. The design incorporates bright coping which draws your eyes to the edge.
The vanishing edge pool reaches into the forest the same way the home stretches its cantilevers into the environment. For a better look at the project visit Rangr Studio.
Below the wood deck is a coil of floating slats that roll out to cover the pool and retain heat when the pool is not enjoyed for its beauty or functionality.
Looking back at the dramatic house from the vanishing edge of the pool.The vanishing edge pool sits on 36 timber piles driven into the soft soil.
An absolute black granite waterwall invites Intuit employees with pleasing visuals and acoustics to working lunch meetings in Mountain View, California.
Intuit’s “Cook Campus Center” is fronted by the black granite waterwall as the walkway rises up to entrance level.The stair stepped waterwall basin changes elevation to match the walkway’s grade while providing small pools for submerged lighting to highlight the walls at night.Coldspring built the granite wall panels using a multi-axis CNC machine to create the 1/2″ wide x 2″ tall steps while also curving the panels in their horizontal planes. It’s a complicated feat of 3D modeling and stone work only possible with detailed and coordinated drawings between us, AECOM and Coldspring.Waterwall plan view of reinforced concrete structure.The Intuit campus rain garden included a series of custom solid granite benches machined by Coldspring‘s multi-axis CNCs. The intent was to create a series of meeting places between the buildings where employees could collaborate with the pleasant sound of falling water around them.The subterranean equipment vault included a surge tank where the waterwall’s water-in-transit was stored. This was done by gravity flowing from the wall’s basin to the surge tank so that a tightly controlled water level was always present in the public area for safety and aesthetic purposes. Filtration systems were engineered to maintain water quality for the waterwall, three rain garden features, and a small recessed waterwall at the eating area.
Mosaic tile images have been around for thousands of years. This implementation in 2012 included a Stradivarius violin wood-grain blend.
Colored lights are capable of changing the overall appearance of the violin in fascinating ways.The owner plays the violin and he thought of the shape for the pool because he wanted a play area (body), lap section (neck) and spa (chin-rest). The “bow” was conceived as a koi pond, separated from the neck by acrylic windows.The pool looks a bit like a guitar in this view and the perimeter overflow spa shines like a polished ebony chin-rest.
Oceanside Glass & Tile made a custom blend of mosaic tiles to mimic the wood grain of a Stradivarius. The “f-holes” and tailpiece are black glass tile. Yes – I couldn’t resist including “f-holes” in this blog!With a beautiful background of custom blended mosaic tiles, the violin strings shimmer with light and guide lap swimmers from tailpiece to the “scroll” and back.The violin’s “upper bout” is 7′-4″ deep.
Don’t Break the Neck
The pool is 7′-4″ deep where it meets the neck. It is possible that the body and neck could hinge due to differential soil settlement so extra reinforcing steel was added, reminiscent of the violin strings.
Similarly, the koi pond “bow” crosses the neck with acrylic windows separating fish from lap swimmers. Extra reinforcing was added here too and resembles the horse hair used for real violin bows.
This is the type of special structural engineering that Watershape Consulting is known for – we are creative problem solvers.
Extra reinforcing steel added to the violin neck and koi pond “bow” connections.
Laurie is our Chief Financial Officer and she began with the firm by filing our articles of incorporation on April 7, 2004. She works part-time as our CFO, accountant and attorney.
Richard joined the firm in 2009 and is the Design Project Manager, overseeing coordination and details for architectural and landscape architectural design. He is also heavily involved in mechanical design and assists with structural design as needed.
Krista joined the firm in 2012 as our Office Manager, focused on operations including accounting, payroll, taxes, human resources, contracts, insurance, scheduling, maintenance of our licenses and other regulatory concerns.
