Presenting Virtual Backyard

Questar Pools and Spas

For the second year, Pool & Spa News has developed the Virtual Backyard — this time with the help of two renowned guest designers. This project is an interactive tour of four backyards, with insights into their design as well as the application of products that can be used in these environments.

“Hanley Wood is happy to create a virtual learning experience for pool professionals and their clients on best practices for pool construction and backyard environments,” said Ray Giovine, vice president of sales for Hanley Wood Business Media’s Pool Group, which includes PSN.
The project focuses on three

areas: design principles, mechanical best practices and structural integrity. “Our intent was to help professionals and consumers gather useful information to help them in their decision-making processes,” Giovine said.

For the first time, the founders of Genesis, the design and construction education group based in Murfreesboro, Tenn., collaborated on the project, discussing four designs and how they came together.

“We were honored to work with the Genesis team,” Giovine said. “Not only are they some of the top experts in the pool-design space, but they were very collaborative and helpful, bringing much of their knowledge and expertise to the table. We couldn’t be more happy with the end result and look forward to working with them in the future.”

The idea was to show various tiers of project — from the ultra-upscale to very accessible backyards that could fit most budgets and incorporate shotcrete, fiberglass or vinyl-lined pools.

“We wanted to show that design is paramount. It doesn’t matter how much the pool is being sold for,” said Genesis co-founder Skip Phillips, also president of Questar Pools and Spas in Escondido, Calif. “Great design is not restricted to the upper-end, concrete market.”

Fellow co-founder Brian Van Bower, also president of Miami-based Aquatic Consultants, participated as well.

Product suppliers also provided information about their wares to help industry professionals and consumers learn what’s right for them and how to use it.

Take the tour here.

About the Author

Rebecca Robledo

Rebecca Robledo is deputy editor of Pool & Spa News and Aquatics International. She is an award-winning trade journalist with more than 25 years experience reporting on and editing content for the pool, spa and aquatics industries. She specializes in technical, complex or detail-oriented subject matter with an emphasis in design and construction, as well as legal and regulatory issues. For this coverage and editing, she has received numerous awards, including four Jesse H. Neal Awards, considered by many to be the “Pulitzer Prize of Trade Journalism.”