The level changes along the pool's coping created another technical problem, as it meant the bond beam would have to change levels many times. the slate on the high walls at the back used 12-by-12 inch pieces, so that space filled up nicely. but as the beam dropped, there was room left for just a single line of 6-inch waterline tile that had to stand on its own while complementing the slate triangles.
We elected to break away from the linearity and go with a pattern of curves and swirls to contrast with the stone on the seating wall and the other raised sections, flowing with the contours of the shell rather than with the slate's angularity.
Softening the angles further, we set up a cascade that sheets from the top wall into the spa and flows through the spa spillway before falling into the pool. The result is a diversity of vertical walls at various levels playing off the unusual flow of the pool/spa combination - all within the scope of what the customer wanted to do with the available space.
As we plotted out course with this project, Pedersen stayed in steady contact and asked us questions that sharpened our ideas as well as his understanding of the constraints under which we were working. Once again, it was a two-way street: if we ran into something that moved us away from an agreed-upon concept, we'd call him to discuss the specifics and reach a sensible conclusion that fit within his vision.
Confidence and trust that move in both directions from designer to contractor and back again are what this collaboration is all about, and it's a working relationship we treasure. The way we see it, we're all working from our strengths - his as a designer who understands what construction is all about, ours as contractors who buy into design concepts and turn vision into reality. |
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| The landscape architect's design features lots of levels, changes in materials, variations in textures and a large number of complex angles. Turning his vision into reality was far from simple, but the collaboration was truly a two-way street and we were able to develop practical solutions that made it all work, visually as well as functionally. |
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