What We’ve Been Doing!
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February 10, 2019 – Our colleagues at California Natural Pools have launched a new website! Click here to check it out!
February 8, 2019 – We are proud to announce that our BioNova® Dealer in Chicago, Larry Carnes of Reflections Water Gardens, received three 2019 Excellence in Landscape Gold Awards from the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA). Congratulations to Larry and his team at Reflections Water Gardens. Keep up the great work!
February 7, 2019 – BioNova® conducted its first One Day Seminar of 2019 in Las Vegas, NV. These seminars are conducted annually during the winter months to help spread the word about Natural Swimming Pools and to teach the basics of NSP design, construction, limnology, aquatic plants, aesthetics, and maintenance.
January 29-31, 2019 – BioNova® exhibits at the 2019 NESPA Pool & Spa Show in Atlantic City.
January 26, 2019 – Ryan Harmer and Alan Weene traveled to San Antonio, TX to speak at the Southwest Pool and Spa Show. They gave a presentation entitled “Sustainable Watershapes for the Southwest Landscape” which focused on the environmental benefits of Natural Swimming Pools. There were many pool builders who attended the lecture and everyone came away feeling inspired!
After speaking at the conference, Ryan and Alan celebrate with a cold liter of German beer at the San Antonio Riverwalk Biergarten.
January 25, 2019 – Please click here to check out this terrific article on Natural Swimming Pools featuring installations by Waterscapes by Jesse Dutra, Freddy’s Landscape Co., California Natural Pools, and Rin Robyn Pools. There is also a photo and a link to Webber Natural Pool in Minneapolis, the first public NSP in North America.
January 18, 2019 – We have begun a new project in Princeton, NJ which will feature a beautiful man-made creek as you enter the property. This creek will be filtered and purified by our new MD2000 biofilm filter technology. In order to move forward we first had to clear a portion of the property that had become unusable and nearly impenetrable because of invasive plant growth. We enlisted the help of a forestry mulcher and made short work of the brambles, leaving the towering trees as the backdrop for our new water feature.
December 28, 2018 – We have finished construction of the third Natural Swimming Pool in NJ! The regeneration zone was filled with laboratory approved gravel and the separation walls were capped with hand cut bluestone. Due to the subfreezing temperatures in NJ both the pool and regeneration zone have been winterized and the entire system will await startup and planting until spring.
December 15, 2018 – This week Ryan Harmer and Allen Schnaak traveled to Southern California to meet with some potential clients who are interested in building a Natural Swimming Pool.
While they were in the Los Angeles area, Ryan and Allen met up with our friends Troy Becker and Peggy Wiles at California Natural Pools. Troy and Peggy were gracious hosts and showed us some of the amazing NSPs they have built. Thank you Troy and Peggy for sharing your valuable time with us. We had a great time and learned a lot!
November 30, 2018 – After the Thanksgiving holiday, record-breaking rainfall, and some early winter snow in the northeast, we’re back on the jobsite in Southampton, NJ working hard to complete our 3rd NSP in New Jersey. We’ve finished the pool plumbing, pressure tested the lines, and we’re ready to backfill the trenches. This pool is nearly complete!
November 9, 2018 – Please join us in saying a warm welcome to the newest member of our BioNova® administrative team, Mr. Allen Schnaak, VP of Dealer Development. Allen will be working closely with all of our existing BioNova® Dealers to support develop their businesses, and he will also be utilizing over 40 years of experience in the swimming pool industry to help recruit and train new BioNova® Dealers.
Allen studied Marine Biology & Limnology at Clemson University. He has experience in swimming pool construction, service, retail, and maintenance in both the residential and commercial sectors, and for the last 30 years Allen has been assisting small businesses with the technical training of their personnel. Allen is an avid outdoorsman, hiking, camping, fishing and exploring whenever he has the chance. “I’ve been a practical steward of the environment all of my life, if for no other reason than to selfishly protect the environment I love so much… Natural Swimming Pools just seem like the perfect venue for this next stage in my life.” Allen and his wife, Linda, live in Georgetown on the South Carolina coast, where environmental conservation and protection of wetlands and waterways provides one of the most pristine tidal areas in the world.
October 28, 2018 – Next time you’re strolling down the Walk of Fame, give Troy Becker and Peggy Wiles at California Natural Pools a call and ask them to show you this incredible BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool built into the side of a large hill in the suburbs near Hollywood! The biologically purified water overflows into several catch basins at different elevations before it is pumped back to the swimming pool at the top of the hill. After many different iterations of the hydraulics plan for this very complex installation, Troy Becker and BioNova® CKO Alan Weene arrived at a solution which was ultimately installed at the project site and has proven to work beautifully! Great job Troy and Peggy, you deserve your own stars on the Walk of Fame!
October 27, 2018 – Congratulations to Tony Frisella, Sr. and his team at Frisella Nursery and Elegant Escapes in St. Louis on completion of their first water feature using BioNova® technology! This elegant water feature includes a regeneration zone at an upper elevation and a waterfall adorned with natural stone which cascades into a basin below. Pictured here, Tony and Don Simon stand next to their completed masterpiece. Nice job guys!
October 19, 2018 – This week in Southampton, NJ we installed anti-slip PoolHide® liner over the custom steps and we’ve begun running the rough plumbing. We’re also installing a protective layer of geotextile in the regeneration zone in preparation for placement of gravel.
October 5, 2018 – Our Southampton, NJ project continues to roll along. The PoolHide® liner has been fully installed in the regeneration zone, and excavation has begun on the area that will house both the BioNova® FineFilter and the pump vault.
September 28, 2018 – Work continue at our NSP installation in Southampton, NJ. The PoolHide® walls and floor have been installed, and we have begun construction of a custom radius tanning ledge and stepped entry at the shallow end of the pool.
September 21, 2018 – After the PVC coated metal strips were affixed to the top of the steel walls, the Eco Green PoolHide® 60 mil is now being installed in our NSP in Southampton, NJ.
September 14, 2018 – Our massive Princeton, NJ project is complete! To celebrate this occasion the owners had a debut party this past weekend. It was raining, however that did not take away from how amazingly beautiful the pool, regeneration zone, stream, millstone table, and all of the other landscaping looked. Over 70 guests attended the party, many of which commented that this unique backyard oasis “looked like a natural resort!”
August 31, 2018 – We’re making good progress on our second BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool in New Jersey. This week the vermiculite floor in both the pool and the regeneration zone was installed. Next step is to begin welding the PoolHide® liner.
August 24, 2018 – The first BioFlow4 biofilm filter in North America is now complete! This groundbreaking new technology is already proving its value. It has been operating for just over one week and the water in the pool is getting clearer everyday. The photo below is taken from deck level, looking down 10 feet to the deepest part of the pool. Gin clear!
August 18, 2018 – Anthony Archer-Wills adds the finishing touches to our Princeton, NJ project. After making a table and chair set out of old millstones, Anthony hides the rusted centers with grout dyed to color-match the stone and provide a completely natural look. The results are amazing!
August 17, 2018 – Our second BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool in New Jersey is making progress. The steel walls have been erected for the pool and regeneration zone and a concrete collar has been poured.
August 10, 2018 – The installation of the first BioFlow4 biofilm filter in North American is moving forward. This technology will allow us to mitigate high phosphate levels in the municipal water supply feeding our pool and regeneration zone in Princeton, NJ. The BioFlow4 biofilm filter is so efficient at removing nutrients from the water that it will eliminate the food source for any free-floating algae in the water column, providing crystal clear water for our clients to enjoy.
July 20, 2018 – We’ve completed construction of the new 5,000 sq ft regeneration zone in Princeton, NJ. Eric Rosseland and Ryan Harmer worked alongside Anthony Archer-Wills to install the plants in their new habitat. A variety of hearty natives were selected, including cattails, lotus, lilies, and iris.
July 7, 2018 – Anthony Archer-Wills has put the finishing touches on the stream at our installation in Prniceton, NJ, and we’ve constructed raised planting beds throughout the regeneration zone for the water lilies.
July 6, 2018 – We’ve begun excavation of our second BioNova® NSP in New Jersey. This will be a two-pot NSP with the regeneration zone located at a higher elevation than the swimming area. We are excited to bring this project to life!
June 8, 2018 – The construction of our stream in Princeton, NJ is nearly finished. Every detail of this stream was planned and designed by our colleague Anthony Archer-Wills, and he was onsite to oversee the arranging of every stone, from the large boulders to individually placing hand-picked river rocks.
June 1, 2018 – We continue working on our massive renovation project in Princeton, NJ. Once again we’ve been joined by Anthony Archer-Wills, and this week he used his creativity to build a table out of an old millstone.
May 25, 2018 – What do you do when you need to move a 14.5 ton boulder? You get a 220 foot tall crane with over 30 tons of counter weight added, and then you can move it over 90 feet from center point. Easier said than done! But BioNova®, with the help of Anthony Archer-Wills, was up to the task this and got the job done.
May 11, 2018 – Anthony Archer-Wills is back in Princeton, NJ to work his magic. He is a wizard at placing stones and building outdoor environments that indulge the imagination and delight the senses. We are constructing a water feature that will flow into the regeneration zone and setting boulders to create a natural screen from wind, abate street noise, and to create a beautiful alcove for the owners to sit and enjoy their wonderful outdoor living space.
April 29, 2018 – Congratulations to Brian Buchholtz and his team at PondWorks for executing a Preconstruction Planning Agreement for the first BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool in Pennsylvania! We look forward to working with you on this project!
April 27, 2018 – This week, BioNova® Dealer Rin Robyn Pools started building the regeneration zone at their NSP construction site in Mendham, NJ. The BioNova® distribution shafts and perforated pipes have been installed, and the first gravel layers have been washed and carefully set in place.
April 20, 2018 – The weather finally warmed up enough for us to finish the PoolHide® installation in the newly constructed regeneration zone in Princeton, NJ. We’re now moving forward with construction of the boulder wall which will separate the marginal aquatic plant zones from the deep water zones. The boulders are set on top of several layers of geotextile to protect the PoolHide® membrane.
This regeneration zone is so large that we actually had difficulty moving some of these massive stones into place! But when there’s a will, there’s a way…
Ever wonder how the Egyptians built the pyramids? A lot can be learned from the simple machines of ancient times. No stone is too large for a few determined workers and an iron pipe or two!
April 14, 2018 – The first BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool in the state of Virginia is now operational! This project was a conversion of an existing concrete chemical swimming pool to a Type V BioPool®, our most energy-efficient style of NSP. The pool was renovated and refinished with eco-green PoolHide® 60 mil PVC membrane by Eric Rosseland and Lee Miller of Rin Robyn Pools, while the regeneration zone, plumbing, and BioNova® equipment was installed by BioNova® Dealer Larry Carnes of Reflections Water Gardens. Later this month the homeowner will be working with a local aquatic plant specialist to finalize the planting plan for the regeneration zone. This NSP is functioning as a 1-pump system utilizing the Speck ES90 1.1 THP variable speed pump and is circulating 24/7 using only 100 watts of electricity per hour! Now that’s energy efficient!
April 10, 2018 – Congratulations to BioNova® Dealer Larry Carnes of Reflections Water Gardens who was recently featured in Quintessential Barrington Magazine!
“As a young man, Larry found himself interested in art, architecture, and landscape design while in school. Today, he uses those interests and honed skills in a business he owns that specializes in custom water gardens, ponds, waterfalls, and natural swimming ponds.”
March 9, 2018 – A massive nor’easter dumped more than 18″ of snow in new Jersey earlier this week, but fortunately Mother Nature held off just long enough for us to get some good work done in Princeton! We were privileged to work alongside Anthony Archer-Wills as we placed decorative boulders around the site and in the naturalistic spring we’ve built as part of the newly expanded regeneration zone.
March 2, 2018 – This week we finished installing Eco-Green PoolHide® in the swimming vessel at our NSP conversion project in Virginia.
We are also very pleased to announce two new NSP contracts in New Jersey. We’ve executed a design agreement with a client in Little Silver, NJ who is also collaborating with Tesla to bring sustainable energy solutions to her home and outdoor living space, and we’ve signed a construction contract with a client in Southampton, NJ for a Type IV BioPool®. It’s going to be a busy year!
February 24, 2018 – After nearly 10 weeks of intense subfreezing temperatures, we are back on the jobsite in Princeton, NJ and continuing the work to convert this hybrid pool to a fully biologically purified NSP. Our crew is there finishing the sand/cement floor today. Next steps will be to lay down a protective layer of geotextile and begin installing our Eco-Green PoolHide® 60 Mil PVC membrane. More photos coming soon!
February 2, 2018 – After three long weeks, we’re finally home and pleased to announce that our Full Day Seminars in January were a success! Alan Weene and Ryan Harmer visited San Francisco, Austin, and Miami to educate homeowners, designers, and contractors about the science and technology of NSPs. BioNova® Dealer Steve Dallons of Pacific Pools Inc. was present for our San Francisco seminar. We look forward to many new projects as a result of these educational programs, and we have a number of people interested in becoming Dealers too!
(above) Full Day Seminar in Miami – January 27, 2018
(above) Full Day Seminar in San Francisco – January 12, 2018
January 2, 2018 – Please join us in saying a warm welcome to the newest member of the BioNova® Natural Pools North America Administrative Team, Ryan Harmer. Ryan will be helping us with sales and marketing, developing relationships with prospective NSP clients and builders, and he will also be assisting with project management at the NSP renovation in Princeton, NJ.
A native of Hamilton Square, NJ, Ryan graduated from Virginia Tech in 2001 with a degree in Communication and a minor in Leadership Studies. He then went on to receive a Masters Degree in Leadership Education and Development from the University of Maryland. Ryan was commissioned as an Officer in the United States Navy through the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. During his 14 years in the Navy he earned his “Wings of Gold” as a Naval Flight Officer and flew aboard the P-3 Orion as both a navigator/communications officer and the Tactical Coordinator. He deployed to several locations including Sigonella, Curaçao, Kinloss, Scotland, and various countries throughout the Middle East.
Following his naval service he worked with the Federal Government with the Department of the Interior and has private sector experience in sales and logistics. Ryan currently resides in Robbinsville, NJ with his wife and two kids.
December 30, 2017 – This weekend, IOB President Stefan Meier traveled from Europe to the United States and visited several of our BioNova® installations in New Jersey. The International Organization for Natural Bathing Waters (IOB), which is the Bremen, Germany based association for natural swimming pools, has recently elected a new 5-member Board of Directors including Michael Messner (Germany), Dirk Esser (France), James Robyn (USA), Incoming President Stefan Meier (Spain) and Jan Sarosiek (Poland).
December 23, 2017 – We’ve completed the plumbing, set mechanical equipment, backfilled the pool, and the first BioNova® NSP in New Jersey is now circulating water! The system hydraulics are performing exactly as designed and the clients are thrilled with the progress. More work will continue after the holidays.
December 22, 2017 – Larry Carnes and his team from Reflections Water Gardens along with master PoolHide® welder Eric Rosseland have been hard at work renovating this concrete swimming pool in Virginia. They are refinishing the interior, installing BioNova® equipment and new plumbing, and constructing a separate regeneration zone for this Type V pool conversion. We can’t wait to see the first BioNova® NSP in Virginia finished!
November 19, 2017 – The International Organization for Natural Bathing Waters (IOB), which is the Bremen, Germany based association for natural swimming pools, has elected a new 5-member Board of Directors to replace the outgoing Board and has installed a former Board Member, Stefan Meier of Spain, as the new President of the Organization.
The new Board consists of Michael Messner (Germany), Dirk Esser (France), James Robyn (USA), Incoming President Stefan Meier (Spain) and Jan Sarosiek (Poland).
The election was at the 9th International Congress for Natural Bathing Water held in Leeuwarden, Holland during the Congress’s 2-day Symposium and trade show.
Newly elected Board member James Robyn is President and CEO of BioNova® Natural Pools North America, as well as President of the Association for Swimming Ponds and Natural Swimming Pools (ASPNSP) which is the USA member of the IOB.
Also attending the Congress from the USA was BioNova® Dealer Jesse Dutra of Jesse Dutra Landscape in Massachusetts, and Hae-Sun Robyn of Rin Robyn Pools in New Jersey.
The next International Congress of the IOB will be held in 2019 in Poland.
October 28, 2017 – Construction continues on our first Natural Swimming Pool in New Jersey. PoolHide® liner installation is complete and we are getting ready to set equipment and run rough plumbing.
October 20-23, 2017 – BioNova® Natural Pools associates Alan Weene and Kevin Martin exhibited at the 2017 American Society of Landscape Architects Annual Meeting & Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Expo was very well attended and BioNova® received a lot of attention from Landscape Architects and Designers, many of which have been following BioNova® for years and are getting a lot of interest in NSPs from their clients. California Natural Pools Project Manager Peggy Wiles stopped by the booth to say hi and to share her expertise with Expo-goers!
September 24, 2017 – We’re making good headway on our first BioNova® NSP in New Jersey. The concrete footing has been poured around the steel walls, we’ve completed construction of the separation walls for the regeneration zone, and the vermiculite pool base has been installed.
Our clients are very pleased, stating “The project is progressing well. We are really enjoying watching the natural pool come together. It is going to be beautiful. I get the sense that the various contractors who have been on site feel the same way.”
September 17-19, 2017 – We would like to say a special thank you to Gino Podavini and his team at BioNova® Italia for hosting a fabulous summer meeting in Salo, Italy! It was wonderful to see so many of our international Partners at the meeting, to reconnect with old friends, and to meet many others for the first time!
There were fourteen countries represented at this year’s meeting:
Algeria, Belarus, France, Germany, Italy, Romania,
Russia, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey,
Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States
Our first night in Salo began with a dinner together at the hotel Agriturismo Villa Bissiniga, a fully restored agricultural villa with a beautiful view overlooking Lake Garda.
The hotel also features a BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool built by Gino Podavini.
The next morning, we gathered in the conference room to discuss many important topics and to learn about new BioNova® products, methods, and technology… and to say happy birthday to Florian Bitters, son of BioNova® Partners Konrad and Andrea Bitters!
The following day, we boarded the charter bus and set out towards Milan to view Natural Swimming Pool installations by Gino Podavini and Hans Graf. The pools we visited are all performing very well and are each very unique in their design. Here are some photos of the beautiful work done by our Partners…
Type III Natural Swimming Pool in the village Casnate con Bernarte, Como Province.
Originally a Type I Natural Swimming Pool and recently upgraded with new filtration and surface skimmers.
Type V Natural Swimming Pool in Comune di Cassago Brianza, Lecco Province.
Kidney-shaped swimming area at upper elevation…
…and regeneration zone at lower elevation.
We enjoyed a 4-course lunch at Ristorante Bonanomi in Santa Maria Hoè.
Partners from Italy, Algeria, Russia, UK, Spain, and USA dine together.
Gino surprised us with a shot of espresso mixed with grappa after the meal!
BioNova® North America Partners Freddy Miraballes and Bruno Miraballes of Freddy’s Landscape Co.
and Alan Weene of Rin Robyn Pools.
The final stop on our tour, a Natural Swimming Pool built by Gino Podavini at
Agriturismo San Genesio with a beautiful view of the countryside.
Partners enjoy a few final moments together as the sun begins to set behind the mountains.
Grazie Gino per la favolosa riunione!
Danke Gino für die wunderbare Konferenz!
Thank you Gino for the fabulous meeting!
The votes have been cast, and the Partners have chosen to hold our annual Summer Meeting in Madrid, España in 2018! BioNova® Partners Iñigo, Chusa, and Alba from the company Termainox will be hosting the meeting next year. Hasta el año que viene!
September 2, 2017 – Construction is underway on the first BioNova® NSP in New Jersey. Two basins required for the Type IV NSP have been excavated at the site and the pool’s steel walls have been assembled. The pool will soon be ready for rough plumbing and vermiculite installation. We will keep you informed with photos and updates as progress continues on this groundbreaking project.
August 18, 2017 – The first BioNova® NSP in the State of New Jersey is under contract for immediate construction! After many months of negotiations with the municipal Historic Preservation Committee and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, the pool has been issued a building permit and we are planning to begin excavation early next week. This will be a Type IV NSP with two bodies of water, including one partially connected biofilter and one separate regeneration zone located at a lower elevation.
July 14, 2017 – We are extremely proud to announce the completion of the first BioNova® NSP by Brian Buchholtz and his team at PondWorks! This Type III NSP was built in Copake, NY, and features native plantings and natural boulders ornamenting the edges. Great job, Brian!
July 8, 2017 – BioNova® completes the first NSP in Rockland County New York. BioNova® Partners from Royal Pools Construction and Rin Robyn Pools collaborated on this unique Type IV NSP.
May 2017 – BioNova® has been selected to perform a feasibility study for the City of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada to see if an NSP can be installed at their Centennial Park. The people of Moncton heard great things about the Webber Natural Swimming Pool in Minneapolis, and they are hopeful that they will be the proud recipients of the first Public NSP in Canada – the second in North America. We look forward to working with the City of Moncton on this important project.
April 16, 2017 – Please join us in saying a warm welcome to the newest member of our BioNova® Dealer Partner family, Steve Dallons of Pacific Pools, Inc. in Alamo, CA!
Pacific Pools, Inc. has been designing and building pools, spas and water features since 1987. Steve is a Genesis Platinum Member and a Society of Watershape Designers Master (SWD). Steve will be collaborating with BioNova® and Anthony Archer-Wills on his first Natural Swimming Pool this summer in the San Francisco area.
Welcome aboard Steve, we are very proud to have you as a Partner!
March 10, 2017 – James Robyn, Alan Weene, and Anthony Archer-Wills traveled to West Dundee, IL on March 10 to give a 4-hour presentation on Natural Swimming Pools. The event was hosted by BioNova® Partner Larry Carnes of Reflections Water Gardens. James spoke about ASPNSP and its importance, Alan presented information on limnology and NSP design aesthetics, and Anthony wowed the audience with images of biofiltered ponds, aquatic plants, rocks and waterfalls.
Over twenty participants joined us for the symposium, most of them were local landscape architects and pond contractors. A professional networking event and cocktail hour followed the seminar, where many of the attendees exchanged information, had their photos taken with Anthony, and asked us questions about all of the interesting things they had learned about NSPs.
Engineering 321 is certified for CEUs under the auspices of Genesis University, the National Swimming Pool Foundation, and the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Left to right: Hae-Sun Robyn, Alan Weene, Pauline Nash, Larry Carnes, Anthony Archer-Wills, James Robyn, Becky Balach Carnes
Anthony and Alan compare notes and organize their presentations before the symposium
James speaks about ASPNSP
Anthony shows examples of his extraordinary work
James was interviewed by Genesis for a video they’ll be putting together to help us promote future events
February 26 – March 1, 2017 – Customer Relations Associate Brielle Corry attended BioNova® Winter Training for English Speaking Partners in Parsdorf, Germany. Seminar topics included construction fundamentals, hydraulics, limnology, and techniques for NSP planning and design.
February 15, 2017 – BioNova® CTO Alan Weene presented a Full Day Seminar on Natural Swimming Pools in San Francisco, CA. The event was very well attended. There were a few contractors and homeowners in the audience, but the majority of attendees were Landscape Architects, and all of them said they have clients who are interested in an NSP!
February 10, 2017 – New Jersey based BioNova® Partner Rin Robyn Pools expands their fleet with a brand new van, proudly displaying the BioNova® logo and graphics of our Hybrid Natural Swimming Pool in Princeton, NJ!
January, 2017 – BioNova® presented two Full Day Seminars on Natural Swimming Pools in January. All BioNova® Seminars are certified for professional development hours through ASLA Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System, Genesis University, and NSPF.
On January 11th, BioNova® CTO Alan Weene flew to Dallas, TX to hold the Full Day Seminar. One of the attendees has already approached us with several potential NSP projects and we have begun discussions about taking these projects to the planning phase.
On January 18th, Alan was joined by ASPNSP President James Robyn as well as world-renowned water feature artisan Anthony Archer-Wills for the Full Day Seminar in Newark, NJ. The event was very well attended, including two of the Vice Presidents at Aquascape, Inc., Dave Kelley and Ed Beaulieu, who were there to expand their knowledge of NSPs and to learn from the experts at BioNova®. Anthony closed the day’s event with a recitation of his favorite poem, “The Microbe.”
James Robyn addresses Seminar attendees with information about ASPNSP.
Anthony Archer-Wills shares his knowledge of aquatic plants and wetlands construction.
December 28, 2016 – A few months ago BioNova® was approached by adventureman and popular YouTube video blogger, Charles Wieand, who was looking for a location to film a new video featuring a 12ft Anaconda named Puppy swimming in a Los Angeles area Natural Swimming Pool! It was imperative that the water be completely chemical-free so as not to harm the snake, so our client in Ojai, CA and our Partners at California Natural Pools stepped up to the challenge and offered one their NSPs for the film shoot.
Incidentally, Puppy did not like the swim experience, as she had previously been limited to shallow tubs and had never been allowed to swim freely in open water, but she did come out of the NSP feeling healthy and refreshed!
Click here to watch a video of Puppy taking her first dip in a BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool. This one’s going down in the history books!
December 14, 2016 – We are very proud of Troy Becker and Peggy Wiles, our Partners at California Natural Pools, for hosting the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Santa Barbara Chapter for a lunch-and-learn presentation on Natural Swimming Pools! The meeting was very well attended and we had a great response from the 24 architects who participated. This 1-hour presentation was approved for AIA continuing education credits.
Lunchtime Learning: Eco-Friendly, Natural Swimming Pools
CEUs: 1.0 AIA/CES Learning Unit for Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW)
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Location: AIASB Offices – 229 E Victoria St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101
December 13, 2016 – BioNova® and Anthony Archer-Wills welcomed nearly 30 professionals to the Publick House in Chester, NJ for a 4-hour Symposium on Natural Swimming Pools. The majority of participants were landscape architects, designers, or pond builders, including many Certified Aquascape Contractors. The attendees were uniformly positive about the Symposium and offered some excellent feedback, one of which said “This was an excellent presentation, it was very informative and way exceeded my expectations!” Many of them also had their pictures taken with Anthony after he distributed signed copies of his book The Water Gardener.
This course was certified for 4.0 Professional Development Hours by the ASLA Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LACES) and 0.4 IACET CEUs by Genesis University/NSPF.
James Robyn spoke about the ASPNSP
Alan Weene spoke about how NSPs work and the FLL Guidelines
Anthony Archer-Wills showed some of his work and
discussed designing water features in harmony with Nature
October 22-23, 2016 – BioNova® Associates Carol Payer-Cooper and Brielle Corry exhibit at the 2016 American Society of Landscape Architects Annual Meeting & Expo in New Orleans, our 8th year at the Expo! The booth was well received by the Landscape Architects who attended the show, many of which have been following us for years and are very interested in collaborating with BioNova® on the design for a Natural Swimming Pool. ASLA continues to be an excellent vehicle for communicating information about NSPs to landscape professionals, and it’s extremely gratifying to see how BioNova® has become the gold standard for NSPs among L.A.’s in North America!
October 19-21, 2016 – BioNova® Natural Pools North America Partners and guest speakers gather in Chester, NJ for our annual BioNova® Partner Meeting and Technical Training program. We had a great time together and exchanged lots of new ideas and information about BioNova® NSPs. We also enjoyed a delicious Korean BBQ dinner at the home of James and Hae-Sun Robyn, complete with handrolled sushi prepared right before our eyes by local sushi chefs!
Partners from PA, CT, IL, CA, NJ, and NY were in attendance for the Meeting.
We were privileged to have Anthony Archer-Wills, world-renowned water feature artisan and star of Animal Planet’s The Pool Master, join us for the Meeting. Anthony recounted stories from his adventures on the TV show and shared photos of his swim ponds and water feature installations around the world. Anthony also gave a presentation on aquatic plants that he likes to use in his ponds and constructed wetlands projects.
We learned new techniques for single- and multi-chamber NSP hydraulics, and reinforced existing knowledge of BioNova® NSP equipment configurations by having our Partners share photos and sketches of their NSP projects currently on the boards. Pictured above, Freddy Miraballes of Freddy’s Landscape Co. introduces us to his latest NSP design for a new build in Connecticut.
June 22-24, 2016 – BioNova® Partners attend the 2016 BioNova® Summer Meeting in Bad Heilbrunn, Bavaria, Germany! The meeting consisted of one day of classroom training with lectures from guest speakers, a BBQ at the home of BioNova® Partner Norbert Deppisch, and a tour of 7 different BioNova® NSP installations in the Bad Heilbrunn and Greater Munich area.
June 12, 2016 – Our BioNova® NSP in Austin, TX is featured as part of the 20th annual Cool House Tour, a self-guided tour produced by Austin Energy Green Building and Texas Solar Energy Society. The Tour showcases homes that are designed and built to high standards of energy efficiency, comfort and regional design.
June 11, 2016 – Webber Natural Swimming Pool in Minneapolis, MN, the first Public NSP in North America, is now open 6 days a week from 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm with free admission to Park visitors. The NSP at Webber Park expects to see 700 bathers per day in summer 2016. The mission of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board is to “permanently preserve, protect, maintain, improve, and enhance its natural resources, parkland, and recreational opportunities for current and future generations,” and the NSP at Webber Park is certainly a bold statement for their commitment to environmental sustainability and forward thinking in the Minneapolis community. BioNova® is proud to have been a part of this monumental project!
May 2016 – BioNova® appears in Luxury Pools Magazine, a national consumer publication for potential buyers and owners of high-end residential pools. Luxury Pools showcases the world’s most spectacular pools and the artisans who create them. An upcoming issue in Fall 2016 will feature a full-length article on NSPs in addition to our BioNova® builder’s profile.
March 4-13, 2016 – Alan Weene, BioNova® CTO and Head of Marketing, headed to the 2016 Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show to assist new Partner Mark Petley of Louisa Earth at his trade show booth. Get ready Pittsburgh, BioNova® is here!
February 28, 2016 – Congratulations to California Natural Pools for their successful completion of the first conversion of a chemical swimming pool to a chemical-free, eco-friendly BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool in the United States, a major accomplishment for BioNova® and our North American Partners!
February 26, 2016 – Every year O&G Industries hosts the Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (CT ASLA) for a full day of educational programs. This year, BioNova® and our Partners at Freddy’s Landscape Co. were invited to exhibit and present information about Natural Swimming Pools, with special attention given to the award winning pond-to-NSP conversion in Newtown, CT completed by Freddy in 2014. We were very well received by the Landscape Architects who attended the event, most of which had already heard of BioNova® and look forward to specifying our product for one of their upcoming jobs!
February 17, 2016 – BioNova® attends the Drew University Career Fair in Madison, NJ in search of students and young professionals who share our passion for environmental sustainability. Interested in joining our team? Click here to learn more about Internships and Career Opportunities with BioNova® Natural Pools.
Alan Weene, BioNova® CTO and Head of Marketing, mans the BioNova® table and eagerly awaits the arrival of local college students at the Career Fair. Also in attendance at the Career Fair was Rin Robyn Pools, a BioNova® Dealer Partner and NJ-based swimming pool design/build firm since 1958.
February 1-3, 2016 – A special thank you to BioNova® Global CEO Rainer Grafinger for hosting a great Winter Meeting in Parsdorf, Germany! We learned a lot and had a wonderful time reconnecting with our international English-speaking Partners.
In total there were nearly 40 BioNova® Partners (8 of us from the United States) in attendance from more than ten countries including USA, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Belarus, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Romania, and Serbia!
Rainer Grafinger conducts a lesson on 2-pond NSP planning.
BioNova® Partners learn about NSP equipment and product innovations.
Jesse Dutra (Waterscapes Natural Pools) and James & Hae-Sun Robyn (BioNova® Natural Pools North America) enjoy a traditional Bavarian meal at the Schweiger Brewery near Munich.
Alan Weene (BioNova® Natural Pools North America) joins Werner Hocke (Hocke GaLaBau) and others from BioNova® Germany for a cold beer and a delicious meal at Il Galeone, our favorite Italian trattoria in Munich!
Troy & Jeri Becker (California Natural Pools) with German Partner Florian Bitters (Garten Bitters).
January 22, 2016 – Alan Weene, BioNova® CTO & Head of Marketing, presents a 90 minute lecture on Natural Swimming Pools at the 2016 Southwest Pool & Spa Show in San Antonio, TX. “Natural Swimming Pools: Sustainable Watershapes for the Southwest Landscape” was accredited for 1.5 CE Hours by The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) Career Institute.
December 2, 2015 – BioNova® CTO & Head of Marketing, Alan Weene, hosts a one hour informational webinar on Natural Swimming Pools. This was our best attended webinar to date, with over 20 people connected from across the globe! Typical webinar attendees are homeowners, pool/landscape professionals, students, environmentalists, and sustainability experts. For more upcoming lectures, please click here.
November 14, 2015 – Award-winning BioNova® Partner Freddy’s Landscape Co. completes their third BioNova® NSP in Connecticut. This Type III single-chamber NSP has a total footprint over 1,000 sq ft and features a zero-depth beach entry, diving platform, underwater sitting bench, and a perimeter regeneration zone. To see more photos of this NSP, please visit our Houzz.com profile for BioNova® Natural Pools.
November 4, 2015 – BioNova® Natural Pools is featured in the Fall/Winter 2015 issue of Luxury Pools Magazine! Please click here to read the digital edition.
October 30, 2015 – James Robyn, President and CEO of BioNova® Natural Pools North America and United States representative to the International Organization for Natural Bathing Water (IOB), the international governing body of constructed swimming pond experts, gives a presentation on “NSPs in the USA” at the 8th IOB Congress and Fair in Cologne, Germany.
September 9-11, 2015 – BioNova® Partners from around the world gather for the annual Summer Meeting at Punto Verde, Ponti, Italy! This year’s Meeting included one full day of classroom training where Partners reinforced their knowledge of Natural Swimming Pools and expanded their expertise in freshwater science, as well as one day of fieldtrips to several BioNova® NSPs in the surrounding area. Nations represented at the Meeting were USA, Germany, Belarus, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Serbia, Ukraine, Turkey, Spain, Romania, and Czech Republic.
August 26, 2015 – Alan Weene, BioNova® Head of Marketing and Technical Support, hosts a 90 minute webinar on Natural Swimming Pools. This informational session included a general overview of NSPs, design examples, how they work, and Q&A with the experts at BioNova®.
August 25, 2015 – BioNova® Natural Pools President and CEO James Robyn gave a presentation on Natural Swimming Pools and swim ponds at the St. Louis Water Gardening Society Annual Banquet.
Dozens of local water gardeners, horticulturalists, and landscape professionals were in attendance for the presentation.
The event was held at the historic Jewel Box in Forest Park. The building consists of 16,664 square feet of plate glass in over 4,000 panes, set in wood and wrought iron supports.
July 24, 2015 – Webber Natural Swimming Pool in Minneapolis, MN opens to the public. This groundbreaking project is the first public swimming pool in North America to have a biological filtration system that uses aquatic plants in a nearby regeneration zone rather than chemicals to treat the water.
June 16, 2015 – BioNova® conducts a free One Hour Webinar on Natural Swimming Pools. This informational session included information about how NSPs work, design aesthetics, and frequently asked questions about natural pools. Please click here for more upcoming webinars, seminars, and other educational opportunities.
BioNova® BioPool® Type 5
June 3, 2015 – Demolition and excavation have begun near Reseda, CA, site of the first BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool conversion in California. Thanks to our Partners at California Natural Pools for sharing their photos and keeping us posted on the progress! It won’t be long before this old concrete pool is transformed into a Type III NSP oasis!
Preexisting site conditions
Demolition and excavation
Artist’s rendering, after conversion to BioNova® NSP
May 29, 2015 – Please join us in welcoming the newest addition to our BioNova® family, Tony Frisella, Jr. of Frisella Nursery, Inc. in Defiance, MO! Tony is a 3rd generation landscape professional and his new business, Elegant Escapes, will be providing BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool design and construction services to clients in the St. Louis area. Welcome aboard Tony, we look forward to working with you!
Backyard landscape and waterfall design by Frisella Nursery
May 19, 2015 – Congratulations to BioNova® Partner Freddy Miraballes of Freddy’s Landscape Co. in Fairfield, CT for being awarded 1st place honors for Innovation in Landscape Design 2015 by Connecticut Cottages & Gardens! This prestigious award was presented in recognition of the exquisite Natural Swimming Pool we built in Newtown, CT in 2014, designed in collaboration with Tara Vincenta of Artemis Landscape Architects.
May 14, 2015 – Alan Weene represents BioNova® at the United States Green Building Council New Jersey North Branch Chapter’s “Evening of Networking” at the Wyndham Hotel in Florham Park, NJ. Meeting with and learning from other green building professionals helps our experts at BioNova® stay on the cutting edge of sustainability and provides us with a unique opportunity to spread the word about eco-friendly Natural Swimming Pools to other sustainable designers and green product specifiers.
April 4, 2015 – James & Hae-Sun Robyn meet with Christopher Nash, Pauline Nash, and long-time friend and colleague Anthony Archer-Wills to celebrate the airing of the 2nd season of “The Pool Master” on Animal Planet TV. BioNova® frequently collaborates with Anthony Archer-Wills on the design and construction of natural looking water features.
March 18-20, 2015 – BioNova® Partners from CT, IL, MA, MN, NJ, NY, PA and Germany participate in the inaugural BioNova® Partner Spring Training program at the Publick House in Chester, NJ.
Niklas Sobotta (left, BioNova® Germany) has built over 150 Natural Swimming Pools and shared his experience in design aesthetics and construction techniques with our Partners.
We revealed the new BioNova® branded products.
We enjoyed a fabulous Korean BBQ dinner at the Robyns’ house on Thursday night. Thanks to James and Hae-Sun for hosting!
BioNova® Partners Greg and Jim Depuy (Royal Pools Construction) get a close-up look at servicing the Dolphin Bio Suction Robot with Jay Bruner (Maytronics).
March 14, 2015 – BioNova® presents information on Natural Swimming Pools at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott in Los Angeles, CA. The full-day seminar was conducted by Alan Weene, BioNova® Head of Marketing and Technical Support. Attendees included landscape designers, pool builders, and pond contractors from the Pacific Coast, as well as several representatives from Schlitterbahn Waterparks in Texas!
March 12-13, 2015 – Alan Weene joins our Partners at California Natural Pools to exhibit at the 2015 Landscape Design and Development Expo in Long Beach, CA, the regional trade show and conference specifically for Landscape Architects, Developers and Design/Build Professionals in the southwest.
Alan also gave a 90-minute lecture on Natural Swimming Pools on Thursday, March 12. The presentation was approved for CEUs by APLD and the ALSA Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LACES).
Left to right: Jeri & Troy Becker, Peggy & Ric Wiles, Alan Weene
February 26, 2015 – BioNova® Partner Larry Carnes of Reflections Water Gardens was honored with a 2015 Excellence in Landscape Gold Award by the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) for the exquisite garden display garden and NSP he created at the 2014 Chicago Flower & Garden Show, a collaborative effort with Culliton Quinn Landscape Architects. Congratulations Larry!
Left to right: Tony Quinn, Culliton Quinn Landscape Architects
Larry Carnes, Reflections Water Gardens
Kevin Vancina, ILCA President
The “Growing Up Green” garden featured a modern Natural Swimming Pool
with floating bluestone pavers, a living wall, and a Brazilian ipe hardwood deck.
February 24, 2015 – Participants from around the globe join Alan Weene, BioNova® Head of Marketing and Technical Support, for a free One Hour Webinar on Natural Swimming Pools. This informational session included information about how NSPs work, design aesthetics, and frequently asked questions about natural pools. Please click the following link for more upcoming webinars, seminars, and other educational opportunities.
Alan Weene, Head of Marketing and Technical Support
BioNova® Natural Pools North America
January 26, 2015 – BioNova® Head of Marketing and Technical Support, Alan Weene, conducts a Full Day Seminar on Natural Swimming Pools at the Newark Airport Marriott in Newark, NJ. Attendees included a Professor of Renewable Energy at Pace University in New York, a professional Water Gardener and Pond Contractor from New Jersey, and an Industrial Construction Services Manager from Wisconsin! Please click here for upcoming BioNova® Lectures.
December 9, 2014 – We are proud to announce that our friends at Artemis Landscape Architects have been presented with a 2015 Honor Award by the Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects for the Natural Swimming Pool we completed last summer near Danbury, CT! This pool was designed and built in collaboration with our BioNova® Dealer Partners at Freddy’s Landscape Company. Congratulations to all on this very prestigious honor!
Above: Freddy Miraballes, Freddy’s Landscape Company (Fairfield, CT) and
Tara Vincenta, Artemis Landscape Architects (Bridgeport, CT)
December 2, 2014 – Alan Weene conducts a one hour seminar for swimming pool professionals at the Canadian Pool & Spa Conference & Expo. “Natural Swimming Pools – Sustainable Watershapes for the Modern Landscape” provided a general overview of NSP technology, including information on the history of NSPs from their origin in Europe to their inception in the United States and Canada, design aesthetics, basic construction fundamentals, principles of limnology and biological filtration, and aquatic plant selection.
November 22-23, 2014 – BioNova® Associates Alan Weene and Adam Jones manned the booth at the 2014 ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo in Denver, CO. This was our 7th ASLA Expo!
Alan Weene also conducted two 1-hour learning labs on the show floor, “Natural Swimming Pools: Design Trends for the Modern U.S. Landscape” and “Communicating Natural Swimming Pools to Clients.” Both sessions were very well attended by Landscape Architects and design professionals from around the country.
November 5-7, 2014 – The BioNova® Team migrated south to sunny Orlando, FL for three days to exhibit at their 7th International Pool Spa Patio Expo! The new 20′ x 20′ booth included couches, meeting table, a 50 inch video display, and a hanging sign. The booth was very well received and drew a lot of attention from IPSPE attendees.
BioNova® Partner Jesse Dutra stopped by the booth as the BioNova® Team engages an attendee in discussion.
We premiered our new NSP cleaning products at the Expo. Shown here from left to right are a vacuum head and telescoping pole for vacuuming the swimming zone, the Dolphin Bio Suction automatic pool cleaning robot, and a vacuum head and telescoping pole for cleaning regeneration zone gravel.
Below, the BioNova® Team attends the annual Genesis 3 Winemaker’s Dinner. BioNova® Partner Skip Phillips, co-founder of Genesis 3, and BioNova® Partner Jesse Dutra joined us for a fabulous meal with wine pairings!
Front (left to right): Carol Payer-Cooper, Adam Jones, Jesse Dutra, James Robyn
Back (left to right): Hae-Sun Robyn, Alan Weene, Skip Phillips
October 22-23, 2014 – BioNova® Natural Pools exhibits at their 5th USGBC Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. This year’s event was in New Orleans, LA at the Morial Convention Center, and the theme for the conference and Expo was Leadership & Jazz!
“When industry leaders, experts and frontline professionals dedicated to sustainable building in their everyday work come together, the result is a unique and palpable energy. Participants are invigorated and inspired. They find themselves equipped to return to their jobs with a renewed sense of purpose.”
October 18, 2014 – BioNova® Head of Marketing and Technical Support, Alan Weene, conducts a One Day Seminar on Natural Swimming Pools at the Newark Airport Marriott in Newark, NJ. The Seminar was very well attended by a mix of landscape and pool industry professionals as well as students and homeowners. Please click here for upcoming BioNova® Lectures.
“Thank you for the wonderful presentation. It was educational and inspiring.”
Tim Williamson, Graduate Student, University of Maryland Department of Environmental Science and Technology
October 1, 2014 – Alan Weene represents BioNova® Natural Pools at the Association of Professional Landscape Designers New Jersey Chapter meeting in Summit, NJ. Special thanks to Jane Derickson, APLDNJ President, and Mike Gannon of Full Service Aquatics for hosting this event!
September 24-27, 2014 – BioNova® Partners from Germany, USA, Switzerland, France, Italy, Serbia, and Egypt gather in Würzburg, Germany for our annual International Partner Meeting and Training event. BioNova® Natural Pools North America was well represented at the meeting, with Partners from Freddy’s Landscape Co, Waterscapes by Jesse Dutra, Rin Robyn Pools®, and BioNova® Natural Pools HQ all in attendance.
A beautiful view of historic Würzburg and the Main River from Marienburg Fortress atop the hillside.
Classroom training with biologist Dr. Heinz Jaksch, who spoke about hydraulics considerations in Natural Swimming Pools for the formation of beneficial biofilm.
On Thursday we toured several BioNova® NSPs in the Bavarian countryside, then we attended a barbecue hosted by BioNova® Partner Richard Kalhofer, complete with fire pit, locally brewed beer and wine, and authentic Bavarian bratwurst! What a wonderful evening with our Partners!
After saying goodbye to the international Partners, the BioNova® Natural Pools North America crew spent their last day in Germany together in the picturesque Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Taube.
Left to right: Hae-Sun Robyn, Martin Olivera, James Robyn,
Freddy Miraballes, Jim Demetros, Alan Weene, Jesse Dutra
September 18, 2014 – Alan Weene, BioNova® Natural Pools Head of Marketing and Technical Support, and Kerry KenCairn, BioNova® Dealer Partner and Principal at KenCairn Landscape Architecture, host a 90-minute webinar on Natural Swimming Pools for trade professionals and members of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in Southern Oregon.
September 10, 2014 – BioNova® Partner Freddy’s Landscape Co. hosts an informational meet and greet for interested homeowners and trade professionals at the site of our newly completed BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool in Newtown, CT. Thank you to New England Home Magazine for collaborating with us to host such a great event! Please click here to read the press release.
Nearly 80 people joined us for this event. Freddy and his crew treated us to a traditional Uruguayan barbecue!
Many attendees had an opportunity to experience a Natural Swimming Pool for the first time.
Freddy Miraballes (Freddy’s Landscape Co.), Tara Vincenta (Artemis Landscape Architects), and Alan Weene (BioNova® Natural Pools North America) take a few minutes to thank everyone for attending the event and to explain the biological principles behind this unique and sustainable Natural Swimming Pool.
What would you rather have in your swimming pool, harmful chemicals or these beautiful flowering water lilies?!
We turned on the pool lights while saying goodbye to all of our visitors. It was a night to remember – thank you Freddy’s Landscape Co. and New England Home Magazine!
August 27, 2014 – Is there a difference between a “Swim Pond” and a Natural Swimming Pool (NSP)? Please read this seminal article by James Robyn, President and CEO of BioNova® Natural Pools North America, published in the September 2014 issue of AQUA Magazine.
Robyn, James. “Swim Ponds vs Natural Swimming Pools.” AQUA Magazine. September, 2014.
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/f084d4ea?page=57
August 3, 2014 – Greetings from New Jersey! BioNova® Partners from across North America congregate for our annual training program.
Pictured below, BioNova® Partners from CT, NJ, CA, NC, UT, OR, IL, PA, and MN pose with the happy owners of a brand new BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool in western Connecticut recently completed by Freddy’s Landscape Co.
This Type III BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool is 5,500 square feet and holds over 125,000 gallons of water! An ipe hardwood deck and bluestone pavers span the length of the swimming area to give the homeowners an interactive and unique experience of their NSP.
June 27, 2014 – Congratulations to our Partners at California Natural Pools on a beautifully executed Natural Swimming Pool installation in Ojai, CA – the first on the West Coast! This Type V multi-chamber NSP was designed and built in collaboration with world-renowned water gardener Anthony Archer-Wills and was recently filmed for Animal Planet’s new TV Series “The Pool Master”. Amenities include a jumping rock, waterfall, LED lighting, automatic cover, and a separate regeneration zone with several water gardens interconnected by a natural looking stream.
Photos courtesy of Animal Planet and California Natural Pools
June 3, 2014 – The first BioNova® pond conversion in the US is finished! In only a few weeks we transformed this pond into a completely chemical-free, eco-friendly BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool. The NSP was fully planted shortly after these photos were taken.
April 30, 2014 – BioNova® Dealer Partner Rin Robyn Pools invites local homeowners, designers, and trade professionals to a free 90 minute seminar at the Olde Mill Inn in Basking Ridge, NJ. Pictured below, Alan Weene conducts a lecture on Natural Swimming Pool design aesthetics, construction methods, and principles of biological filtration.
March 22-23, 2014 – We want to thank everyone who came out to see BioNova® Dealer Partner Freddy’s Landscape Co. at the Fairfield County Home & Outdoor Living Expo. We had a great time meeting with both new and familiar faces and introducing our Fairfield County customers to Natural Swimming Pools!
(left to right) – Freddy Miraballes, Nicole Miraballes, Alan Weene, Dylan Murray
March 14-23, 2014 – Alan Weene joined BioNova® Partner Larry Carnes of Reflections Water Gardens at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show. The theme of this year’s Show was “Do Green, Do Good,” a perfect fit for BioNova® Natural Pools!
In collaboration with Culliton Quinn Landscape Architects, Larry created an elegant garden display at the Show this year which showcased a demonstration-sized Natural Swimming Pool. The theme of Larry’s garden was “Growing Up Green.” The garden featured a modern, rectilinear NSP with adjacent water garden, “floating” bluestone pavers, a living wall planted with fresh herbs, native terrestrial plant species, and a wooden deck made of ipe tropical hardwood. This unique garden was the Chicago debut for BioNova® NSPs and was very well received. Great job, Larry! We’re all very proud of what you accomplished!
An artist’s rendering of the garden display.
An aerial view of the garden.
The demonstration NSP was 2′ deep and surrounded by natural materials and native plantings.
(left to right) – Alan Weene, BioNova® Natural Pools; Larry Carnes, Reflections Water Gardens; Tony Quinn, Culliton Quinn Landscape Architects.
Showgoers explore the garden as they traverse the “floating” bluestone pavers.
A happy father and daughter investigate the aquatic plants in the regeneration zone.
March 8, 2014 – James and Hae-Sun Robyn traveled to Utah to visit BioNova® Dealer Partners Jon, Joe, and Jennifer Wiberg of Waters Edge. They checked in on the first BioNova® NSP in Utah that is currently under construction near Provo. This Type V NSP project was started last year and work will continue in a few weeks when the site dries up. Best of luck to our Utah Partners as they finish up this amazing project!
BioNova® Dealer Partners Jon and Joe Wiberg. Nice truck guys!
The NSP and regeneration zone under construction. The clients have an unbelievable piece of property, complete with a panoramic view of the snow-covered mountains and a magnificent home.
After visiting the NSP, the Robyns joined the whole Wiberg clan for dinner at a local restaurant.
(left to right) – James and Hae-Sun Robyn, Joe, Ashleigh, Jen, Jon and Davin Wiberg
February 27-March 2, 2014 – Creativity blooms at the Stratford Garden Festival in Stratford, Ontario, Canada! Pictured below is a garden display which included a stylish water feature, a stone fireplace, and native terrestrial plantings.
Water flowing into a stone-framed sitting pool provided a bit of tranquility for visitors.
February 26, 2014 – BioNova® Dealer Partner Rin Robyn Pools exhibits at the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association 37th Annual Trade Show and Conference at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ.
February 20, 2014 – Alan Weene and Adam Jones conduct a One Day Seminar on Natural Swimming Pools in Orlando, FL. The Seminar was very well attended by pool builders, landscape professionals, and homeowners from across the US. Presentation topics included principles of limnology, NSP design aesthetics, construction fundamentals, and aquatic plant selection. This seminar was approved for 6 CE hours by the American Society of Landscape Architects Continuing Education System (LACES).
Adam Jones, BioNova® Natural Pools Head of Design and Public NSP Operations, shares his knowledge of aquatic plants.
Seminar attendees complete a written examination at the end of the day to fulfill their requirements for continuing education credit.
February 6-12, 2014 – BioNova® Partners from around the country gathered in Houston, TX to learn the fine art of PVC membrane welding and regeneration zone construction. We had the opportunity to convert an existing pond to a regeneration zone that will be connected to a future BioNova® Type V NSP. This hands-on training proved to be an invaluable learning experience for all of our Partners and we had a lot of fun together.
The client had this to say about the experience, “I have to say that this project was definitely a labor of love – in many ways. The enthusiastic participation of everyone who came for the training, the laughs over lunches and dinners, the genuine concern for the outcome of my project and mutual interest in all of our separate enterprises, the Spanish to English language translations, trudging through the mud – all of it was beautiful and priceless. I am proud to call the BioNova® Partners my friends and my family. I have made new friendships over the course of this week and deepened others. I truly appreciate and treasure each one and will gladly do anything I can to help out on future projects… You guys are the best!”
The existing pond, completely dewatered and awaiting a new liner.
New liner, gravel, and plumbing installed, and interior separation wall constructed.
The completed pond, filled and planted. What an amazing transformation!
February 4-5, 2014 – BioNova® Natural Pools Associates Adam Jones and Alan Weene exhibit at the Southeast Pool & Spa Show at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta, GA.
January 28-30, 2014 – BioNova® Natural Pools exhibits at the NESPA Atlantic City Pool & Spa Show in Atlantic City, NJ. Over 11,000 industry professionals, exhibitors, and consumers attended the show this year! Pictured below, BioNova® Partner Jesse Dutra of Waterscapes by Jesse Dutra in Nantucket, MA shares his expertise with an interested pool builder. Thanks Atlantic City, see you again next year!
A beautiful sunset over Atlantic City!
January 16, 2014 – Alan Weene, BioNova® Head of Marketing and Technical Support, conducts a 90 minute informational session on Natural Swimming Pools at the Southwest Pool & Spa Show in San Antonio, TX. Presentation topics included history of NSPs, principles of limnology, design aesthetics, and construction fundamentals.
Alan Weene shares his knowledge of Natural Swimming Pool technology with seminar attendees.
The educational session was very well attended by pool industry professionals from across the US.
January 15-16, 2014 – James and Hae-Sun Robyn and Adam Jones exhibit at the Mid America Pool, Spa and Outdoor Living Show at the Schaumburg Convention Center near Chicago, IL. Joining our Associates at the booth were BioNova® Dealer Partners Larry Carnes (Reflections Water Gardens – West Dundee, IL) and Skip Phillips (Questar Pools and Spas – Escondido, CA).
January 8-10, 2014 – Adam Jones, BioNova® Head of Design and Public NSP Operations, exhibits at the Northern Green Expo in Minneapolis, MN. Adam shared his knowledge of Natural Swimming Pools with trade show attendees, including information about Webber Park in Minneapolis, site of the first public NSP in North America!
December 6, 2013 – BioNova® Natural Pools is selected for Hanley Wood’s Top 50 Green Products Guide from the USGBC Greenbuild Expo 2013. Please click here to view the Green Products Guide.
December 4-5, 2013 – BioNova® Natural Pools travels North of the border to exhibit at the 2013 Canadian Pool & Spa Expo in Niagara Falls, ON, Canada.
November 20-21, 2013 – BioNova® Natural Pools exhibits at the USGBC Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Philadelphia, the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. BioNova® was represented by James Robyn, Alan Weene, and Adam Jones at a booth on the main trade show floor as well as an information desk at the Bavarian Pavilion. Our BioNova® Team shared information about these sustainable watershapes with green building industry professionals, citing key points about NSPs such as energy efficiency, biomimicry, habitat restoration, bather health and safety, and reduced environmental impact.
November 16-17, 2013 – The BioNova® Natural Pools North American Trade Show Tour continues in Boston, MA at the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Annual Meeting and Expo. BioNova® Associates Alan Weene and Adam Jones display information on Natural Swimming Pools, while BioNova® Dealer Partner Jesse Dutra (Nantucket, MA) offers his insight and expertise to trade show attendees.
November 12-14, 2013 – BioNova® Natural Pools exhibits at the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo in Las Vegas, NV. This three-day Expo and Conference at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center included a presentation on Natural Swimming Pools from BioNova® Associates James Robyn, Alan Weene, and Adam Jones as part of the Genesis 3 Lifestyle Booth Continuing Education Track.
November 13, 2013 – The BioNova® Hybrid Natural Pool in Princeton, NJ is featured on the front cover of the November 2013 Green issue of Landscape Contractor Magazine! Please click the following link to read the article: http://landscapecontractor.epubxp.com/i/210216/15
November 4-8, 2013 – BioNova® Natural Pools hosts the first PVC membrane installation training program for pool and pond industry professionals in the United States and Canada. Our BioNova® Partners spent five days learning the proper techniques for installation of PVC membrane for use in swimming pool and pond applications. The program included two days of classroom training as well as three days of practical hands-on installation.
The hands-on membrane installation was at a home near Morristown, NJ. This steel-frame pool shell was previously lined with vinyl.
Daniel Moreno leads the team as the walls and floor are installed.
Touching up the seams.
The completed project, fully lined and filled with fresh water.
BioNova® Partners from Connecticut, Ontario, and New Jersey learn the fine art of welding PVC membrane.
After training, the crew was presented with Certificates for successful completion of the Basic and Advanced PVC Membrane Installer Course.
October 22-25, 2013 – James and Hae-Sun Robyn represent North America at the International Organization for Natural Bathing Water (IOB) Congress in Bregenz, Austria. The IOB is dedicated to quality and quality control for NSPs and natural bathing waters and is the exclusive international distributor of DANA, a web-based database system for swimming pools with biological water treatment, offering all the features of effective quality management.
Below: James and Hae-Sun Robyn with the inventor of the NSP (Schwimmteich), Werner Gamerith.
The first Schwimmteich was built in Austria in 1983. Werner and Tatjana Gamerith were awarded the Konrad Lorenz Prize for Environmental Protection for the connection between Art and Ecology in 1984.
October 16-17, 2013 – BioNova® Natural Pools Chief Science Officer Lisa Brooks and CEO James Robyn presented two lectures at the 10th Annual World Aquatic Health Conference in Indianapolis, IN. Attendees at the WAHC represented aquatic facilities and professionals from 5 continents and dozens of countries.
The first program was a 4 hour comprehensive overview of Natural Swimming Pools conducted in conjunction with Genesis 3. Attendees were provided with information regarding the FLL Guidelines for NSPs, the different types of NSPs, and design and construction examples for various types of implementations. Public NSPs and their associated microbiological standards were also discussed as well as a review of the limnological science behind the function of the NSPs.
The second program was a quick synopsis of the longer program and was open to the general session.
World Aquatic Health Conference General Session
Dr. Lisa Brooks (foreground) listens while James Robyn presents information about Natural Swimming Pools during the 4 hour comprehensive session.
October 15, 2013 – The first BioNova® BioPool® in North America is complete! Click here to learn more about these preconfigured Type V (multi-chamber) Natural Swimming Pools that are both eco- and budget-friendly.
Pre-existing site conditions
A view looking out over the BioPool® and the beautiful Ontario landscape
The regeneration zone in this Type V BioPool® is at a lower elevation than the swimming area
October 5, 2013 – BioNova® Associates Adam Jones and Alan Weene conducted a One Day Seminar in Las Vegas, NV. Seminar attendees were presented with information on Natural Swimming Pools including principles of limnology, design aesthetics, construction fundamentals, water quality, and history of NSPs. This course is approved for 6 CE hours by the ASLA Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System.
September 10, 2013 – James Robyn, BioNova® Natural Pools President and CEO, presented information on Natural Swimming Pools at the Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects “Diving Into Swimming Pools” event, a continuing education program and expo for Landscape Architects, Architects, Builders, Swimming Pool Contractors, and anyone involved in watershape design and construction.
September 9, 2013 – BioNova® Dealer Partner Freddy’s Landscape Company (serving Fairfield County in Southern Connecticut) proudly displays the BioNova® Natural Pools logo on all of his fleet vehicles!
August 14, 2013 – James and Hae-Sun Robyn and BioNova® Global CEO Rainer Grafinger participate in the groundbreaking ceremony at Webber Park in Minneapolis, MN, site of the first Public Natural Swimming Pool in North America! Please click here to download a fact sheet and explanation of the Webber Park NSP project.
August 13, 2013 – BioNova® Associate Adam Jones and his wife Kate celebrate the birth of their first child! Simon Jones born August 13, 2013 at 7:16 AM – 8 lbs 4 oz. Congratulations Adam and Kate!!!
August 7-11, 2013 – BioNova® Natural Pools welcomes Partners to the 2nd Annual North American Partner Training in Morristown, NJ. Represented were Partners from MA, CT, NJ, NC, TX, CA, OR, and UT!
The Partners gather around a Natural Pool in Princeton, NJ.
Susan Olinger, Past President of National and New Jersey Chapter of APLD, gives a presentation on landscape design and outdoor living spaces while the BioNova® Partners listen attentively.
Joe Wiberg of Waters Edge Designs (Utah) goes for his first swim in a BioNova® NSP.
It was a beautiful day to experience the first BioNova® NSP in Connecticut!
July 27, 2013 – Alan Weene, Head of Marketing and Technical Support for BioNova® Natural Pools, conducts a One Day Seminar at the Chicago Marriott Suites O’Hare in Rosemont, IL. In attendance were homeowners and pool and landscape industry professionals from all over North America! The consensus among Seminar attendees was that it was an excellent presentation with lots of great information exchanged. This Seminar was authorized for 6 CE hours by the ASLA Continuing Education System.
June 29, 2013 – Our Annual Grass Court Tennis Benefit was a resounding success again this year for the Boomer Esiason Foundation for Fighting Cystic Fibrosis! Many thanks to Len Fass for arranging the featured Doubles and Singles matches and emceeing the event. Click here for a PDF of the program!
June 18-20, 2013 – The BioNova® Partners gathered once again for the annual Mid-Summer Meeting, this time in Bocholt Germany. Training included tours of nearby NSPs that German Partner Konrad Bitters has designed and built. The Partners visited small plunge pools, several average sized Type III NSPs, and a large conversion project. The meeting concluded on Thursday, June 20, with visits to another NSP in Germany and a drive up to the Netherlands to view a pool built by BioNova® Partner Peter Grubben of Holland. Countries represented at the Mid-Summer meeting were Serbia, Belarus, Germany, Ukraine, Italy, USA, Holland, and France.
May 24, 2013 – The BioNova® hybrid Natural Swimming Pool in New Jersey receives some spring maintenance. A variety of aquatic plants were selected to adorn the water garden.
May 14, 2013 – Pictured below, BioNova® Dealer Partner Jesse Dutra installs native and adapted aquatic plant species in the regeneration zone at a residential NSP near Boston, MA.
April 27, 2013 – BioNova® Associates Alan Weene and Adam Jones delivered the second One Day Seminar of the year in Atlanta, Georgia. Pictured below, Alan Weene helps Seminar attendees complete the requirements for Continuing Education credits (this course is approved for 6 CE hours by the ASLA Continuing Education System), and Adam Jones presents information about aquatic plants and water chemistry.
April 20-21, 2013 – California Natural Pools representatives Troy & Jeri Becker and Laurence Nicklin share information about Natural Swimming Pools with homeowners at the 36th Conejo Valley Home Show in Westlake Village, CA. California Natural Pools received a lot of attention and were featured on the front page of the Home Show website! BioNova® is pleased to introduce this new trend in residential pool design to the Central Coast CA consumer market.
April 3, 2013 – BioNova® has withdrawn from participation in the City of Edmonton’s Borden Park Natural Swim Experience (NSE). We took this action because changes to the scope and intent of the project precluded our patented and proven biological filtration technology and also mandated incorporation of a chlorine backup system. The BioNova® Team wishes the City and its residents the best possible outcome for Borden Park.
March 30, 2013 – James Robyn discusses Natural Swimming Pools on Home Talk USA, a nationally syndicated radio program and an online consumer information resource. To listen to the interview, please click here, select March 2013, then March 30 (hour 2), and move forward to the 16:00 minute mark.
February 28 – March 3, 2013 – A garden display booth at the Stratford Garden Festival. On Saturday, March 2, BioNova® gave a lecture introducing Natural Swimming Pools to Festival attendees.
March 2, 2013 – Adam Jones, BioNova® Head of NSP Design and Public NSP Operations, and Alan Weene, BioNova® Head of Marketing and Technical Support, conduct a OneDaySeminar on Natural Swimming Pools at the DFW Airport Marriott North in Dallas, TX. Pictured below, Adam Jones presents information about aquatic plant selection to the Seminar attendees. The Seminar also included information about NSP design aesthetics, limnology, and construction fundamentals.
February 27, 2013 – BioNova® Partner Rin Robyn Pools operates a display booth at the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association 36th Annual Trade Show and Educational Conference. James Robyn, President and CEO of BioNova® Natural Pools North America, also gave a lecture on Natural, Eco-Friendly Swimming Pools during the Conference.
February 12-17, 2013 – BioNova® Partners from around the world gather in Munich, Germany for the annual English-speaking Partner Training Event. In attendence were BioNova® Partners from USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, Romania, Egypt, Serbia, Belarus, and Spain! There was lots of news to share with experienced and new BioNova® Partners. Rainer Grafinger, CEO of BioNova® Global, gave many lectures on limnology, NSP design, and construction methods during this 5-day seminar.
BioNova® Global CEO Rainer Grafinger conducts a lecture on NSP Design and Planning
The Partners examine some of BioNova®’s proprietary equipment
The BioNova® Teams from Garda Bio Pools (Italy) and Archer Corporation (Egypt) enjoy a meal together with BioNova® Global CEO Rainer Grafinger
Pavel, Nikita, Sergei, and Ala, the BioNova® Team from Belarus, attended their first Partner training event
Christine Schoeck, BioNova® Global Head Office Supervisor, translates a menu for our Partners from Spain at a traditional Bavarian restaurant outside of Munich
BioNova® Natural Pools Dealer Partners conduct a mock interview with NSP clients Rainer Grafinger and Jeri Becker
In addition to learning about Natural Swimming Pools, our Partners from Egypt also learned how to build a snowman! It was their first time ever seeing snow.
Jon and Joe Wiberg of Waters Edge Designs in Park City, Utah were presented with a special award for becoming the 90th Partner in the BioNova® Family. Since then, BioNova® has welcomed Partners number 91 and 92 to the Team. There are now 92 BioNova® Partners in 43 countries around the world!
A few of our BioNova® Natural Pools Dealer Partners from North America congregate outside the hotel before an evening out in downtown Munich. Pictured above: Troy and Jeri Becker and Laurence Nicklin (Ojai, CA); Jesse and Hadley Dutra (Nantucket, MA); Alan Weene (Boston, MA)
February, 2013 – BioNova® Natural Pools and our Partner, Waterscapes by Jesse Dutra, is featured in the February 2013 edition of AQUA Magazine. The cover photo (see below) is the first BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool in North America and is located on the island of Nantucket, MA. The article “A Natural First” written by Jesse about BioNova® Natural Pools and the Nantucket installation appears on page 39. Please click here to view the February 2013 digital issue of AQUA Magazine.
January 29, 2013 – Hundreds of landscape architects and interested attendees of the NJ Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Annual Meeting attended a presentation on Natural Swimming Pools by James Robyn, President and CEO of both BioNova® Natural Pools North America and Rin Robyn Pools. The firms are headquartered in New Jersey. The presentation traced the history of the Natural Swimming Pool (NSP) from its inception in Europe 30 years ago, to how James and Hae-Sun Robyn introduced BioNova® Natural Pools to North America beginning in 2007.
The presentation was held in a Ballroom at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City (pictured below) and covered residential installations of NSPs in North America as well as upcoming public pool installations, culminating in showing a plan for the first public Natural Swimming Pool in North America to be built at Webber Park in Minneapolis and planned for completion in 2013 with a grand opening in 2014.
Robyn has painted a bright future for Natural Swimming Pools in North America, emphasizing that NSPs are 100% chemical-free, ecologically harmonious, and healthful for humans and the environment. Adopted by green-thinking people, BioNova® NSPs are now gaining traction in North America as a socially responsible, sustainable, and ecologically sensible alternative for homeowners who want to invest in a chemical-free swimming experience and a vacation place in their own backyard.
January 25, 2013 – BioNova® hosts their first informational One Hour Webinar on Natural Swimming Pools at 8:00 PM ET. All recent leads and inquiries were invited to attend the interactive session. The Webinar was facilitated by BioNova® Head of Marketing and Technical Support, Alan Weene. Upcoming lectures are listed here. If you are interested in attending a future Webinar, please email alan@bionovanaturalpools.com.
November 16, 2012 – BioNova® hosts a OneDaySeminar at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel – San Francisco Airport, CA. The Seminar was valid for 6 LACES credits from the American Society of Landscape Architects. The Seminar was very well attended and included presentations from James Robyn, Alan Weene, and Adam Jones.
November 14-15, 2012 – pictured left to right, BioNova® Marketing and Technical Support representatives Bennie Johnson, Adam Jones, and Alan Weene at the USGBC Greenbuild Expo in San Francisco, CA.
November 8, 2012 – James Robyn and Alan Weene give a Lecture/Presentation at the International Pool and Spa Expo in New Orleans. Engineering 121: Natural Swimming Pools – The Pool Reinvented; Plants Instead of Chemicals. In attendance were pool and spa professionals from around the world, including Skip Phillips, co-founder of Genesis 3 Design Group.
November 6-8, 2012 – pictured left to right, Alan Weene, Hae-Sun Robyn, and James Robyn represent BioNova® Natural Pools at the International Pool and Spa Expo in New Orleans, LA.
October 29, 2012 – A BioNova® client sent in the photograph below of his wife swimming her regular daily lap routine in their pool during Hurricane Sandy – he suggested the caption, “A Pool So Gorgeous That You Want To Swim Even During A Hurricane!”
October 21, 2012 – Click here for a link to an article just released about BioNova®’s First Dealer Partner Training Program in the US.
September 29, 2012 – BioNova® Marketing and Technical Support Representatives Alan Weene (right) and Adam Jones (left) speaking with an attendee at the American Society of Landscape Architects EXPO in Phoenix.
September 18, 2012 – BioNova® representative Alan Weene shares information about Natural Swimming Pools at the CA Technologies Sustainability Fair in Framingham, MA. The event showcased green products and technologies to raise awareness amongst CA Technologies employees on the plethora of options available to them to make their home and work-life more sustainable.
September 13, 2012 – James and Hae-Sun Robyn visit the construction site of the first BioNova® NSP in Ontario, Canada to review progress and meet with the client. Located in Innerkip, ON, the pool (pictured below) was completed in October 2012.
August 22-26, 2012 – The First Dealer Partner Training Program in North America is held in Boston, MA. The program began with a visit to a local BioNova® residential installation and a barbecue and swim party hosted by the gracious homeowners!
Below: BioNova® Global CEO Rainer Grafinger explaining the operation of the BioNova® FineFilter to Partners
BioNova® North American Partners
Below – BioNova®’s Dr. Lisa Brooks tests a sample of the natural swimming pool water.
BioNova® Associates (Hae-Sun Robyn and Dr. Lisa Brooks in the foreground) enjoying a swim.
BioNova® Partners Jesse Dutra, James Robyn and Rainer Grafinger presented the homeowner with a BioNova® Certificate of Authenticity certifying that the installation has been constructed in accordance with the International Standards of the BioNova® Partners.
We spent the next 4 days in classroom seminars at the Sheraton Boston Hotel – the first day consisted of lecture by Rainer Grafinger and everyone listened intently.
The next day featured world-renowned pond designer and rock (stone) artist Anthony Archer-Wills. Anthony’s presentation was an inspiration to everyone to elevate the level of their design work and attention to detail.
We managed to sneak in a quick trip to a new BioNova® Natural Swimming Pool under construction near dowtown Boston. The Partners all agreed that this installation will be another high water mark in the implementation of the NSP in North America as it merges technologies from America with the European concepts.
Because it was restaurant week in Boston, we managed to find a different but delightful dinner location every evening for the Partners to enjoy together.
On the third classroom day we all were privileged to be lectured to by England’s Robin Templar Williams. A second generation landscape designer, Robin works all over the world designing gardens and water features, including natural swimming pools, and teaches the subject of design in a straightforward and powerful way. Everyone had a chance to design their own NSP while being coached by Robin and present their design to the other Partners.
On the final day, Rainer Grafinger finished the seminar with a technical discussion. Everyone agreed that the training session was a huge success. BioNova® Partners graded it an A+.
July 30-August 2, 2012 – Below – BioNova® Global Head Rainer Grafinger together with BioNova® North American leaders meet with members of the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the firm of Landform to initiate the design and planning of the first public Natural Swimming Pool in North America at Minneapolis’ Webber Park.
L-R: Ginger Cannon – MPRB, Hae-Sun Robyn – BioNova®, James Robyn – BioNova®, Rainer Grafinger – BioNova®, Lisa Beck – MPRB, Brady Halverson – Landform, Bob Schunicht – Landform, Cliff Swenson – MPRB.
July, 2012 – BioNova® President and CEO James Robyn was interviewed by Swim University’s Matt Giovanisci for a 30 minute podcast all about Natural Swimming Pools. To listen to the podcast with slides displayed at the same time, please send an email request to: podcast@bionovanaturalpools.com and we will email you the program.
June, 2012 – BioNova® MidSummer meeting in Switzerland. This trip began with James and Hae-Sun Robyn visiting the BioNova® Global Head Office in Munich for an English-speaking training session with Rainer Grafinger, Christine Schoeck and BioNova® Partners Tony Lee from South Africa and Prasanna from India.
We reconvened in Thun, Switzerland after meeting up with BioNova® North American Partner Jesse Dutra. Our first stop was the fabulous Public Pool in Schlieren, Switzerland.
Below, Mr. Nikic, head of the Schlieren Public Pool, proudly explains the operation of the pool to BioNova® Partners
This amazing pool features a splash pad and a 67 meter long stainless steel slide. The pool is heated with natural gas to extend the swimming season and make for more comfortable swimming in the summer.
We then spent 3 days touing NSPs constructed by BioNova® Swiss Partner Hans Graf. We visited 14 NSPs and logged quite a few kilometers. It was tiring but very informative – it surely was great to again see BioNova® Partners from all over the world. Many thanks to Hans Graf for organizing the whole operation. Thun is a beautiful and historic city!
Below: Jesse Dutra – USA; Rainer Grafinger – Head of BioNova® Global; Niklas Sobotta – BioNova® Germany
BioNova® Partners inspects the NSP
Rainer Grafinger explains details of NSP construction
Rainer Grafinger introduces new Partners at the dinner meeting.
Picttured below: Werner Hocke, Germany; Prasanna, India; Karin Nicholls, Germany
Rainer Grafinger (below right) explaining the finer points of Bavarian humor to Jesse Dutra (left)
BioNova® Partners together at one of Hans Graf’s beautiful NSPs.
June 10, 2012 – Mountain View, California – the 2nd Annual Green Kids Conference (sponsored by and held at the Microsoft Silicon Valley Campus) featured a project from a very special budding young scientist, 8 year old Esha Goru (pictured below at her booth). Esha provided an education to attendees on the limnological workings of the NSP.
Esha understands the science behind the nitrogen cycle from her hobby aquarium, and knowing that chlorine is toxic to fish she regularly uses a water conditioner to remove chlorine from refill water. She thought that it would be a good idea to use the same concept to build “an aquarium for people” and contacted BioNova® for more information. Below is a photo of the model NSP that she constructed (with Mom’s help).
We salute Esha for helping to introduce the concept of the NSP in North America – and for her insight that we should be building non-toxic, sustainable, environmentally friendly “Aquariums for People”. “Besides”, she said, “they’re prettier.”
May 8, 2012 – BioNova® hosts a OneDaySeminar at the Renaissance Hotel – Newark Airport, NJ. The seminar was valid for 6 LACES credits from the American Society of Landscape Architects. Anthony Archer-Wills, world renowned pond designer (pictured lecturing below)…
…incorporated a very entertaining and informative seminar on natural-looking pond construction. Attendees enjoyed the presentation and learned a lot about NSPs.
Also in attendance was Michael George, Owner and President of Gartenart USA. We were pleased that Michael was able to learn a lot about NSPs from our seminar! Here he is pictured at the seminar with Gennaro Brooks-Church of Eco-Brooklyn – here’s a link to the Eco-Brooklyn website.
May, 2012 – BioNova® has been named the winner of the AQUA Magazine CHOICE Award in the category of Concrete Pool or Pool/Spa Combo. Please click here to read the article.
March, 2012 – BioNova® Partner Rin Robyn Pools with a display at the Morristown, NJ Home Show. Dr. Lisa Brooks from BioNova® is pictured.
December, 2011 – BioNova® Partner James Robyn (right) travels to Massachusetts to visit an NSP installation by BioNova® Partner Jesse Dutra (left – with iPad). A live video conference is held with Rainer Grafinger in the BioNova® Global Head Office in Munich.
November, 2011 – BioNova® holds seminar in the Genesis 3 Design Pavillion at the International Pool and Spa Expo in Las Vegas.
October 31, 2011 – BioNova® clients swimming in their hybrid Natural Swimming Pool in New Jersey under the protection of their Labrador Retriever – note the snow on the ground and on the diving board!
October 5-6, 2011 – BioNova®’s Dr. Lisa Brooks at the US Green Building Council GREENBUILD Expo in Toronto.
August 19, 2011 – BioNova® exhibits at the Build San Antonio Green Showcase.
July, 2011 – Below – BioNova® Partners meet in Kassel, Germany for the annual MidSummer Meeting. Seminars are conducted in German, French and English. From the USA, Partners attend from NY, NJ and Mass. Reclining is Niklas Sobotta – host Partner.
June 28, 2011 – BioNova® North America has announced our “Hybrid” Natural Swimming Pool. Utilizing state-of-the-art American technology in conjunction with European design concepts, the “Hybrid” pool fills the market niche between the American chemical pool and the European-style completely natural pool. Water clarity, purity and algae control are achieved with technology and very low levels of chemicals, while plants are grown in the pool water to enhance the water quality and the swimming experience. For more information about this type of pool, please click here to read an article originally printed in WaterShapes magazine.
June 8-9, 2011 – NorthEast Build Expo – Meadowlands Exhibition Center, New Jersey
Jack Mascharke at the BioNova® Booth (pictured below)
April 9, 2011 – Berkshire Botanical Garden – Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Chemical Free swimming pools – environmentally friendly and healthy – Lecturer, James G. Robyn, President and CEO of BioNova® Natural Pools for North America. Introduction by BioNova® Certified Design Professional and world renowned pond designer, Anthony Archer-Wills.
April 8, 2011 – American Society of Landscape Architects – Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter Annual Meeting – Skytop Lodge, Skytop, PA
Growing Plants in Your Swimming Pool: From Europe, Natural Swimming Pools – Lecturers, James G. Robyn, President and CEO of BioNova® Natural Pools for North America. The lecture was presented to a standing-room only crowd pictured below.
March 29, 2011 – OneDaySeminar in Natural Swimming Pools – Washington, DC
A day long seminar on Natural Swimming Pools. Qualifies for Professional Development Hours for the ASLA and for Continuing Education Units for APLD.
March 4-5, 2011 – Tennessee State Fairgrounds
Lecture on Natural Swimming Pools – Lecturer, James G. Robyn, President and CEO of BioNova® Natural Pools for North America. Lectures also conducted by Anthony Archer-Wills, BioNova® Certified Design Professional and consultant.
March, 2011 – Chicago Home Improvement Magazine releases an article featuring BioNova® Natural Pools. “Making a Splash: The Newest Trends in Pool and Spa Enhancements.” – for a link to the article, please click here to visit our Publications and Press Releases page.
March, 2011 – GreenBuilder magazine features “Pools Without Chlorine” – for a link to the article, please click here to visit our Publications and Press Releases page.
February 22, 2011 – Morristown, NJ – Lecture on Water Gardens and Designing with Water – including Natural Swimming Pools – Lecturer, Anthony Archer-Wills, renowned pond designer and BioNova® Certified Natural Swimming Pool Designer.
February 16, 2011 – BioNova® Partners at dinner during Training Session for English Speaking Partners – Below – Partners from Serbia, Texas, New Jersey, Germany, Sweden, Massachusetts, California, Austria, Oregon, Spain and Italy.
February, 2011 – Luxury Pools magazine publishes a spread on BioNova and their Dealer, Rin Robyn Pools.
February, 2011 – WaterShapes publishes an article by James Robyn entitled, “Natural Pools: Safe for Swimming?” Click here for the article.
January 25-27, 2011 – BioNova® exhibits at the Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show.
January, 2011 – WaterShapes magazine publishes an article by James Robyn on the BioNova® “Hybrid” pool that Robyn built in Princeton, NJ.
November 5, 2010 – Las Vegas – BioNova® Dealers at the Genesis 3 Winemaker’s Dinner.
November 5, 2010 – BioNova® Dealers at the Las Vegas Expo – below left to right, James Robyn, Tuna Bakirman, Anders Erickson, Christine Schoeck, Hae-Sun Robyn, Rainer Grafinger, Umit Duzgun.
November 3-5, 2010 at the International Pool and Spa Expo in Las Vegas. Below, James Robyn presents a seminar in the Genesis 3 Pavilion to a group of interested pool builders.
October 25 – 28, 2010 at the National Recreation and Parks Association Expo.
October 6 – 10, 2010 – Participated at the Genesis 3 LifeStyle Event in Washington State.
September and October, 2010 – BioNova® hosted OneDaySeminars in Boulder, Chicago, Boston and Seattle. BioNova® is pleased to announce that we were awarded a consulting contract to perform a feasibility study for converting an existing Public Pool into a Natural Swimming Pool at Borden Park in the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Work on the project began the week of July 12, 2010 and concluded on October 20, 2010 with a presentation by James Robyn and Rainer Grafinger at the CN Tower in Edmonton.
September 11-12, 2010 – Attended the ASLA Conference in Washington, DC.
Here we all are at the BioNova® booth – ASLA expo 2010!
(above) Left to Right: Rainer Grafinger, Head of BioNova® Global – Munich, Germany, Kara Smith, BioNova® Technical Specialist, NY, Christine Schoeck, BioNova® Munich, Hae-Sun Robyn, BioNova® North America VP, James Robyn, BioNova® North America CEO
Justin Kromer, BioNova® Representative, Virginia, Kara Smith, BioNova® Technical Specialist, NY
Click here to see a video of the Grand Opening on July 1, 2011 of the first public NSP in Scandinavia!
June, 2010 – BioNova® hosted a tour of Natural Swimming Pools in Koblenz, Germany.
Photo above: BioNova® Partners in Koblenz – June 2010 – Partners are present from Germany, France, Italy, Holland, USA, Serbia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Turkey, Poland, Luxembourg and a few other countries.
June 10-12, 2010 – The American Institute of Architects Expo 2010 at Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida.
Photo below: Hae-Sun and James Robyn at AIA Miami Expo.
April 17, 2010 – Display exhibit at the Earth Day Celebration Green Expo at Lewis Morris Park, Morris County, NJ.
April 14, 2010 – A One Day Seminar for Landscape Architects, Designers, Pool Builders and Pond Builders in San Francisco. For upcoming Seminars, please click here.
Photo Above – OneDaySeminar – Designing Natural Swimming Pools and understanding the European (FLL) standards.
March 13 – 15, 2010 – Dealer Partner Training Program (English Language) in Munich, Germany.
Photo Below – Jesse Dutra of Waterscapes by Jesse Dutra, Nantucket, Massachusetts, awarded for completion of the BioNova® Training Program.
Photo Below – BioNova® Partners from Germany, Serbia, USA, Romania and Austria at lunch in Munich during the English Language Training Program
February 24, 2010 – A One Day Seminar for Landscape Architects, Designers, Engineers and Builders in Saddle Brook, New Jersey.
February 12-13, 2010 – Exhibit at the SouthWest Pool and Spa Show in San Antonio.
January 25-28, 2010 – Exhibit at the Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show.
January 18-24, 2010 – Presentation at the BioNova® WorldCongress in Istanbul, Turkey.
December 9-10, 2009 – Exhibit at the Canadian Pool and Spa Expo in Toronto, Canada.
November 16-18, 2009 – Exhibit at the International Pool and Spa Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada in the Genesis 3 Pavilion.
October 28-31, 2009 – Exhibit at Aquanale in Cologne, Germany.
Photo Above – Aquanale, Cologne, Germany – October 2009 – left to right – Umit Duzgun – BioNova® Turkey, Christine Schoeck, Rainer Grafinger – BioNova® Central, Munich, Hae-Sun Robyn, James Robyn – BioNova® North America, Josef Becka, BioNova® Czech Republic
October 24, 2009 – Exhibit at GreenDay in Gladstone, NJ
October 10-11, 2009 – Exhibit at the GreenFestival in Washington DC
October 3, 2009 – Exhibit at the West Windsor, NJ Environmental Fair
September 29, 2009 – Lecture/Presentation to the “Waterscapers” class at the NY Botanical Gardens
September 21, 2009 – Presentation in a session entitled “Natural swimming Pools and Ponds” to the American Society of Landscape Architects Annual Meeting and Expo in Chicago
Above photo – Rainer Grafinger (BioNova® Global Head Office – Munich, Germany) and James Robyn (BioNova® North America) presenting at ASLA
Below photo – ASLA attendees learn about Natural Swimming Pools.
September 5-6, 2009 – GreenFest Exhibit in Frenchtown, NJ.
July 12-15, 2009 – Exhibit at the Association of Professional Landscape Designers Annual Expo in Portland, Oregon.
June 17-24, 2009 – Presentation at the BioNova® MidYear Training Seminars in Luxembourg.
April 30-May 2, 2009 – The American Institute of Architects Expo 2009 at Moscone Center in San Francisco.
April 15, 2009 – A seminar on NSPs at the Bucks County Audubon Society.
April 9, 2009 – A seminar on NSPs at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Meyerson Hall.
February 25, 2009 – Lecture/Presentation at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown, NJ.
Photo above – James Robyn presenting at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum
to members of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.
January 17-24, 2009 – BioNova® Partner Meeting, Nice, France
Photo above – James Robyn presenting to BioNova® Partners in Nice, France
January 27-29, 2009 – The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals in Atlantic City.
November 18-20, 2008 – The International Pool and Spa Expo in Las Vegas.
October 4-5, 2008 – The American Society of Landscape Architects Expo in Philadelphia.
August 12, 2008 – The Association of Professional Landscape Designers Expo in Tarrytown, NY.
June 23-29, 2008 – BioNova® Mid Summer Partner Meeting, Munich, Germany.
January 24-31, 2008 – BioNova® World Congress, Bad Bleiberg, Austria.
