Baptismal Font - Architectural Masterpiece

Paolo Benedetti, the principal of the aquatic consulting and watershape design firm of Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa, proudly reveals another architectural masterpiece... the baptismal font for Saint Benedict's Roman Catholic Church.

Desperate Need of Repair
Though the original font was only 10 years old, shoddy workmanship by the original builder had cause significant damage to the surrounding floors. Though an initial attempt was made to waterproof the font, it was haphazard at best. Water was seeping up through the surrounding floors, causing a slippery and dangerous condition. As a result the, the font was drained and left empty.

Lack of Thought in the Design
The architect's original design lacked any thought into the architecture of the building, the space to be occupied, the acoustics or the practicality of actually using the font. Situated in the entry foyer of the Church, the font is the focal point on upon entering the building.

The original font had a three foot diameter aluminum bowl with a spillway that spilled water from a height of four feet into the lower pool. The sound of the falling water was amplified by the stucco foyer walls and it echoed through the Church. The annoying background noise urged parishioners to use the restrooms during mass. The diameter of the bowl was so small, that infant baptisms could not be performed, as the Priest, Parents and God-Parents could not fit into the space around the aluminum bowl. And, anyone who has ever worked around chlorinated water will tell you... chlorine eats aluminum! The upper bowl quickly developed leaks and became a myriad of assorted patches and repairs.

Access to the lower font's pool was always cumbersome and awkward, as it lacked an external step, hand railings and the internal steps varied in height by over two inches.

The New Design
Paolo was given carte blanche with new design. He proposed a much larger upper bowl, of a cubic design, better fitting with the building's rectilinear lines and mission architecture. The larger bowl would allow larger crowds to access the font at the beginning and end of mass. The height was established to provide access to the wheelchair bound that desired to bless themselves upon entry to the Church. The larger size would also allow infants to actually be baptized in their own parish Church! To assist with infant baptisms, the curbing of the upper cube was designed to be one foot wide, so that infants could actually be laid upon the rim if necessary.

The green slate that lined the inside & outside of the lower pool would be stripped. The ineffective waterproofing and loose mortar bed would be jackhammered off of the walls and floor. The upper and lower fonts would be finished with a custom gradient blend of Italian glass tile mosaics from Bisazza Mosaicos, Vicenza, Italy.

The hand railing from the adjacent stairs would be relocated into the top of the lower pool wall, so that it could provide assistance to both the users of the font and the external stairs. The internal steps of the font would be adjusted, so that they would be of equal height. Additionally, the singular drain was modified into two balanced drains and a vacuum port for maintenance was added. Exterior floor drains were relocated to allow for the installation of the access steps and the upper font cube.

The spillway was redesigned to function as a "wet wall" off of the corner of the cube. Being narrower on the inside & wider on the outside, the spillway's design will create the optical illusion that the water is not level on the top of the spillway.

A bronze statue of the ascending Christ that the Church had in an outer entry, was to be relocated to a commanding position atop the cube. The natural lighting of the overhead skylights would shine upon this space during the day. Overhead lighting was modified to highlight the statue and to accent shadowlines.

Theology of the Design
Though significant thought went into the redesign of the physical attributes of the reconstructed font, the real importance of the design is found in the use of colors, materials and their placement:

The bronze statue of Christ occupies a commanding position atop the upper font, gazing through the skylight towards heaven above.
A gradient blend of glass tile mosaicos originates with a blend of blacks & grays and transforms to a blend of yellows - baptism in Christ's name is leaving one's sinful past behind (blacks/grays) and signifies the dawn of a new life (sunrise/yellows).
The upper bowl (cube) is a blend of whites and opalescent pearls... infants that are baptized here are free of mortal sin (purity/white).
A smattering of 24 karat gold mosaic tiles spill from the statue of the ascending Christ, over the spill way & cascade onto the floor of the lower font.... Christ is the source of our everlasting life.
The entry step contains a few yellow tiles... there is a little good in everyone, no matter how evil they may be.
A singular gold mosaic tile is on the yellow exit step... Christ will forever be with those who are baptized & walk in his name.
The shadows from the hands of the ascending Christ touch both the black entry step and the yellow exit step... Christ will guide those baptized in his name through life.






Paolo Benedetti - Aquatic Artist
"Creating water as art."™
Aquatic Technology Pool & Spa©
www.aquatictechnology.com

Is your Watershape Consulting firm out of touch?

Paolo Benedetti, the principal of the Watershape Consulting, Design and Construction firm of Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa, discusses why consultants need to be current practitioners of the trades they advise on.

Out of Touch
It's simple really... How can you respect the recommendations of any consultant if they have not actually practiced their craft in say five years, ten years, or even fifteen to twenty years?
The longer they haven't been active in the trades, the more that they become out of touch with the constant changing technologies and methodologies of the various sub-trades and standards.

Boilerplate Plans and Concepts
While a project design or set of construction documents may be thick and contain a lot of pages, do not begin to think for one moment that they are accurate, concise or even relevant. Most consulting firms deliver pages and pages of "boilerplate" specifications and notes. Many of these notations are self-contradicting or are not applicable to your specific project.

Instead of providing "project specific" notations, specifications and standards, these generic pages are delivered with every set of plans. They are not based upon your project's specific materials, details and requirements.

Because of the generic nature of these notations, there are no actual criteria, standards or guidelines for the contractor to follow when it is time for them to actually build your project. For instance, these notes may allow a number of means of providing waterproofing. But, they do not outline a specific program or course of action. Instead, they direct the contractor to "contact the consultant/engineer for approval of any admixtures or waterproofing methods." Guess why? Because they get to bill the client for these additional recommendations and requests for information (RFI).

Are your plans going to be developed & drawn by an "associate" who has never met you, visited your site, or built a pool?
Are the plans going to be a series of "cut and paste" schematics and details?
Is the principal of the firm actually going to proofread the plans? And cross check details?
Are the plans going to include an electrical loading & demand chart?
Are your plans going to include a listing of the various apparatus, manufacturers, model numbers and quantities?

The principals of most Watershape Consulting firms spend their time selling their firms services. Once the job is sold, a minor associate is assigned your project. Most of these associates have never built a pool. They are draftsmen who's job it is, is to churn out plans. Many do not even understand how a pump functions or a heater works, the principals behind ozone oxidation, or the applicable building, health, fire or electrical codes. They do not know the R.O.I. on the equipment and components, the durability of various materials or if you even care?

Is this how you want the plans and specifications for your project developed?

Material Take-Offs
Rarely is there a materials list, which outlines the components and equipment required for the project. Plumbing diagrams rarely contain identifiers as to a specific component. For instance, all shut-off valves labeled with a <3>, may merely refer the reader to a listing of valves. The <3> does not refer to a specific brand, model or size of valve. A pump labeled < P1> usually does not refer to a specific line item in a spreadsheet or equipment chart.

Incompatibilities
The generic notations of these firms are not reviewed, updated or modified on a regular basis. This oftentimes results in equipment or materials being specified in the notations that may have been discontinued, are incompatible or may contradict other details elsewhere in the plans.

Because of the generic nature of the notes, most consultants/engineers start with a disclaimer "It is the responsibility of the contractor to read and understand the pages contained herein. All errors shall be immediately be brought to the attention of the consultant/engineer. The consultant/engineer shall not be responsible for unapproved changed to the specifications contained herein."

What that means, is that the plans are very generic. The project specific details will be contradicted by the notations. It will be the contractors responsibility to proof read the plans for the consultant/engineer, and bring these errors to their attention. Doesn't that seem backwards?

Shouldn't the notes be specific for your project? Shouldn't the notations that are not applicable to your project should be stricken or at least crossed out?

These extraneous notes have been known to cause conflict between the contractors building a project and the building officials - because information in the plans contradict themselves.

K.I.S.S.
Keep It Simple Stupid!

Let's face it - most consultants are trying to impress you with their complex plans and lots of information. But if a lot of the data in a set of construction plans is irrelevant, why confuse the contractor and building officials?

Plans need to be easy to read & follow, concise and project specific. The non-relevant information needs to be removed.

Various components need to be identified by a "line item number" that corresponds to a materials chart. The chart summarizes the item specifics (size, make, model number), electrical/gas demand and the quantity required. Not only does this make identification easy, it makes ordering materials error free.

Each valve should be identified by a unique identifier that corresponds to a chart that states it's purpose (e.g. surge tank modulation valve, main drain isolation valve, etc.), size, style, manufacturer and model number.

It is impractical to merely direct the reader to a paragraph that lists numerous sizes & model numbers. Lest the reader forget to note a diameter of the incoming plumbing line, they must refer back to the original diagram/page. Take-offs, ordering and installation errors abound as a result.

Schematics
Though conceptual plumbing schematics ease in the understanding of the system's operation, they do not assist in the bidding, installation or construction of the project.

Plumbing lines, high voltage and low voltage electrical conduits need to be outlined on the project site plan. The various lines and conduits need to be identified by a unique character. Electrical conduits need to be identified by their size, type, purpose, number and size of the conductors. The locations of underground pull boxes, junction boxes and panel boards need to be clearly identified.

Equipment room schematics need to include both high and low voltage electrical schematics, as well as room receptacles and lighting circuits. A chart indicating the various conductor identifiers (id number), size (AWG), purpose (apparatus fed), and breaker sizes (amps) needs to be provided.

Plumbing schematics for equipment room gas lines, sump pumps, condensation drains, floor drains, faucet(s), eyewash stations and shut-offs need to be provided. Mechanical schematics need to outline exhaust gas ventilation as well as ensure there is adequate make-up air (fresh air). Code specific emergency apparatus for generating ozone within confined spaces (e.g. an equipment room) must be identified and placed.

Costly Detail Development
Because many consultants no longer actually build anything, some for decades, they oftentimes develop design details that specify methodologies, materials or costs far exceeding what is necessary.

For example, a consultant may develop a knife edge slot detail that specifies a costly custom manufactured stainless steel reinforcement of the knife edge and stainless steel support brackets for the coping stones. Because they are not "in the trenches," they are not aware of alternative methods of building the same details without the need for ANY custom stainless steel fabrication, brackets or masonry reinforcement.

Similarly, a consultant may attempt to design a debris collection system for an enclosed surge tank. Costly machining of one-of-a-kind stainless steel components may cost their client three to four thousand dollars (plus the consultants mark-up). Again, because they are not "in the field," they are not aware that a similar system can be field fabricated with off the shelf components for less than a thousand dollars!

A consultant may be specifying antiquated waterproofing materials (e.g. clay or cementitious based), wherein a modern elastomeric membrane may be more durable, economical and efficient. A specified tile thinset may not be performing to the liking of installation crews or contractors (e.g. it sags on vertical surfaces). Bu,t because they are not "on the front lines," they may never know of this product's flaw.

Many Watershape Consultants and Design Engineers have caused the needless expenditure of thousands of dollars of their clients wealth on materials and labor, that had simple and economical alternatives. Alternatives that were as or more durable, easier to install and less expensive.

Though other consultants may possess "book smarts" (engineering degrees) or experience from decades past, there is absolutely no substitution for the continuing experience gathered from being in the field, experimenting with new advancements in construction and materials technology, and innovating through trial and error.

Field experience allows the instantaneous response to under-performing equipment, substandard materials or the development of economical solutions to construction issues.

A consultant with on-going hands-on construction and project management experience, can save you months of construction time and tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your project.

Which would you rather have... a pencil pushing desk jockey or a hands-on, on-site, in-the-field, technological innovator?

Paolo Benedetti - Watershapes Consultant, Innovator, Designer, Builder
"Creating water as art."™
Aquatic Technology Pool & Spa©
www.aquatictechnology.com

Caribbean Resort Knife Vanishing Edge Pools

Caribbean swimming pool designer Paolo Benedetti releases images of a glass tile mosaic resort project in the British Virgin Islands - Virgin Gorda.


2010 - Beach front construction on driven concrete piles.


Completed project - knife edges, 2 beach entries, and a vanishing edge.


Glass tile mosaic waterfall between the second and third tier pools.


Glass tile mosaic grotto and waterfall.


Close up of the glass tile grotto and waterfall.

Project Credits:
Location: British Virgin Islands - Virgin Gorda
Architects: Roger Downing & Partner Co. Ltd.
Developer/Contractor: Victor International
Swimming Pools: Paolo Benedetti - Aquatic Technology

Paolo Benedetti - Aquatic Artist
"Creating water as art."™
Aquatic Technology Pool & Spa©
www.aquatictechnology.com

Glass Tile Mosaic Infinity Edge Pool Design

Famous Vanishing Edge Pool Designer Paolo Benedetti, releases images of another stellar project.





Project Credits:
Architecture: Swat/Meirs
Construction: Silver Creek Development
Vanishing Edge Pool: Paolo Benedetti
Glass Tile: Sicis - Custom Blend

Paolo Benedetti - Aquatic Artist
"Creating water as art."™
Aquatic Technology Pool & Spa©
www.aquatictechnology.com

Glass Tile Mosaic Infinity Edge Pools

Famous vanishing edge pool designer Paolo Benedetti discusses glass tile mosaic pools.

It all about the glass!
Since a glass tile mosaic pools can consume a thousand plus square feet of material, everyone & his uncle are promoting their glass tile as suitable for swimming pools. They'll sell more tile for one pool, than they'll sell for showers and back splashes in an entire year.

But be forewarned, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!

The cheap glass mosaics that you find at your local warehouse store are not suitable for outdoor applications, let alone swimming pools. Even worse, are the thousands of cheap Asian imports that are flooding the market.

Tile distributors and vendors in the United States, seeing the opportunity to make some money, have entered into private labeling agreements with these inferior Asian manufacturers. Some reputable furnishing companies have also put their names on some of these inferior tiles.

Almost no one from these United States companies has even bothered to travel to Asia to visit or inspect the manufacturing facilities. They have absolutely no idea how the tiles are made, the ingredients, whether the correct manufacturing procedures are being followed and the if there are even any quality control measures.

Limited Liability
In California for instance, a retailer is not liable if a product they sell is later found to be defective. That liability falls on the manufacturer.... do you see where this is going? The importer and retailer are free and clear!

You're going to have to sue the manufacturer in Asia to recover your losses when the tiles begin to fracture, crack, spall or disintegrate.

While you can sue the entities in the United States, they will claim that they have no control over the manufacturing process - hey, maybe that's why they don't want to go inspect the manufacturing facilities??? You think??

Poor Installation Practices
To top off the inferior tile, these Asian manufacturers are including installation instructions that do not meet international standard for glass tile installation (e.g. ISO, ANSI, TCNA, CTCA).

I was recently provided a set of instructions by a contractor in California, who insisted that the instructions included with the Chinese glass tile that he was selling were adequate. The Chinese instructions did not specify a leveling bed or waterproof membrane, nor did they even provide a list of tested and approved setting manufacturers. Their instructions said to mix "readily available white cement & sand" into a slurry paste to seal the concrete shell. A second coat of the same slurry was to be used to adhere the tiles to the pool shell. Finally, they stated that "any commercially available grout" could be used to grout the tiles.

Worse yet, the contractor ACTUALLY BELIEVED that this was adequate. And the homeowners and property owners he sold directly to bought into his horse & pony show.

If the going rate for the installation alone of glass tile is $55-$100 per square foot, then how can he provide and install glass tile for $20 per square foot?

Cheap inferior materials and inferior installation practices!!! Just follow the contractor's trail of unhappy customers and license revocations in other states!

I'd love to drive a Ferrari and only pay the price of a Yugo - but seriously, it isn't going to happen! Don't let your greed get the better of you!

Paolo Benedetti - Aquatic Artist
"Creating water as art."™
Aquatic Technology Pool & Spa©
www.aquatictechnology.com