Welcome to our most beautiful issue of the year: Masters of Design.
This is the issue in which we celebrate pool and spa design in all its permutations, whether it’s through the use of special or unusual materials, devising thoughtful solutions to space limitations, or creating beautiful spaces to highlight a waterscape.
This year, I’m excited to introduce a new category to the program — Stainless Steel. This is to acknowledge the excellent work in an established — and growing — medium that has never before been honored. Be sure to check out our first stainless steel winner.
This year was particularly difficult for our judges. I want to thank the hundreds of people who submitted their work for consideration. I regret that we’re required to narrow it down to just 10 winners when there were so many deserving projects. We’ve chosen three additional pools as honorable mentions.
This special issue would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our deputy editor, Rebecca Robledo. Having previously served as our construction and design editor for many years, her experience and insight into the evolution of pool design has been invaluable.
Many thanks, too, to our three wonderful Genesis judges for taking the time out of their busy schedules to determine the winners of the concrete portion of our program. They are:
• Paolo Benedetti, principal and designer, Aquatic Technology Pool & Spa, Morgan Hill, Calif.
• Kate Wiseman, principal designer, Sage Outdoor Designs, San Diego
• Alison Felschow, vice president, Crystal Pools, Columbia, S.C.
And now, please enjoy the parade of stunning pools and spas in this issue, and congratulations to our winners. You are each truly a Master of Design!