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I like your idea about the sandbox – how about some old metal Tonka trucks to move and shape the sand, some water, a bucket. . .

Exactly. I would really like to be able to add this to my skillset. But really don’t want to have a failure the first time

No, I’m not using anything specific to natural pools now. I work for a small landscape arch/planning firm that does a lot of public sector work. I just wanted to work under an LA and get some broader experience in the field so I didn’t get pigeon-holed into pools -but I would love to get involved with NSPs (in a more technical hands-on way) again…[Read more]

Interesting you said that. I’m finding that the book I have is not very well written and has some confusing descriptions. I’m definitely looking for more scientific guidelines.  Maybe I need to revisit the BioNova proposal. So are you using what you learned at BioNova with whatever you are doing now? Are you involved with building NSPs?

Yeah, I knew it would be expensive. I do know of Michael Littlewood and his books -I know my boss hated them and thought they were very technically flawed and gave poor advice. Without actually having built an NSP myself, I can’t really judge. I guess your best bet would be to try to track down people who own pools built with Littlewood’s…[Read more]

Kara thanks for the reply. I have had some correspondence with BioNova and they also provided me with a proposal do consult on the design and construction.  It’s a fairly expensive contract, but maybe worth it.  It does seem like a fairly straight forward system, but I’m also very concerned about making sure it works, and being the one r…[Read more]

Steve, 
I was pleasantly surprised to read your thread. As I am sure you are aware ANSI Z.60 covers many things but it does not cover quality. Sadly most firms have old and outdated specifications on this matter or do not know enough in the first place to know any better. The challenge you will run into is that every portion of the country does…[Read more]

I actually did get the joke; perhaps I chose to respond to it poorly. I disagree that a computer program would be less appropriate than a physical play thing. Immersive gaming can be used to teach area, volume, spatial relationships, and aesthetics. Inexpensive 3D printing makes the virtual world very tangible. There are several programs mentioned…[Read more]

Hello All,
I would like to mention firstly that I began my interest in design with toys like Kinex and Legos. What I learned most from playing with those toys was that there were numerous possibilities within a limited kit of parts. I believe this coupled with art supplies would allow a child to explore a great range of concepts and get a firm…[Read more]

I guess if I have to explain a joke, it was never funny. So, I apologize for my stupid joke. I was not seriously suggesting anything computer related. I completely agree that CAD would be inappropriate (and far too expensive) for an 11 year old.

More seriously: workable design happens out there in reality. So a tactile, visceral playing with spaces and volumes, textures etc  is important. Sublimating the experience to the computer as a first step seems misguided  to me. We design in space, we use computers to communicate it.

No worry. It was simply direct. You and I never hit the right note with each other the first time around

no offense, to both Rob and Henry! I am not offended, and will take all comments, sorry if  my ironic replies are too harsh…I like both your ideas..

Ouch!

I was kidding about autocad. I guess I should have put a smiley face behind that so that people wouldn’t consider it a serious suggestion, even though I began the next sentence with “seriously”.
As I said, I think a set of drawing tools and a book would be good. If Trace has any of her old hand graphics books from college, it might be a good…[Read more]

I’d give a kid SketchUp way before AutoCad. Minecraft is another really interesting educational-design tool if caregivers are willing to engage with the child in playing the “game.” I think something more hands-on that would let kids create and get their hands dirty without a screen or a plug would be better. Garden tools, art supplies,…[Read more]

You could get her a copy of AutoCAD.
Seriously, I think a set of drawing tools and maybe a book would be good.

A sandbox!

My kids, 8 & 7, both really liked getting a tablet of graph paper like I use to design on and I let them have an old set of circle templates.  Seemed incredibly simple to me, but I guess having something exactly like what I use daily is the key to why they like it so much.  I think of it like prepping my own little cadre of draftsmen for me to e…[Read more]

I guess that would do in my sisters apartment. A pile of dirt and a shovel, with a directive to re-do her bedroom, since spring is soon upon us..
very funny Rob.
legos, by the way, I do not get at all. They just turn into a pile of unsorted pieces..No comprendo. 
I am thinking like a set with graph paper, templates for trees or couches. Maybe I…[Read more]