The Leading Edge of Aquatic Design
Named by Robb Report as the most influential pool designer in the world, Skip Phillips of Questar Pools & Spas, is said to deliver “a palpable elegance and a sleek aesthetic.” The San Diego-based waterscape artist and industry expert places as much, if not more, emphasis on structure and hydraulics as he does aesthetics—the latter of which have been attributed to his ability to make water “dance.”
Designs by Phillips are marked by a seamless fluidity between the natural environs and the constructed landscape. In fact, he views the pool as an architectural extension of the home. “If someone walks into the backyard and feels the environment connects and that it’s a great space to be, then we did the right thing,” notes Phillips. “Fire, food, and water,” he adds, “are design tenets for defining the principles of what draws someone to a destination, [that’s] my design philosophy.”
Frequently, he travels in search of innovative materials and applications, which inform his signature waterscapes. Natural stone and glass figure prominently in his work, which has been featured in Deborah K. Dietsch’s Dream Pools, as well as publications like San Diego, Decor & Style, San Diego Home & Garden, Custom Builder, and Home magazines, and multiple national television profiles.
Known primarily for his innovations in vanishing-edge and other water-in-transit design details, he is also an internationally recognized educator whose focus is the intricate cosmetic and mechanical details relating to more complex pool and spa designs. Questar also specializes in BioNova® Natural Pools that are completely chemical-free and ecologically friendly.
For the last several years, Skip has been joined by associate designer Greg Boruff in creating Questar’s custom watershapes. During his tenure with Questar, he has worked side-by-side with Phillips, participating in a range of international award-winning designs, while honing his understanding of aesthetic, structural, and mechanical design elements. His work has been published in national publications and he has participated in the design, planning, and rendering of some of Questar’s most significant projects. Boruff has completed the Genesis Society of Watershape Designers curriculum and ongoing education requirements. He is also proficient in AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Revit, a Building Information Modeling program. Using these tools coupled with his watershaping acumen, he has been instrumental in working and communicating with clients and associates, including numerous architects, landscape architects, engineers, pool builders, and independent contractors.
Today, Questar continues to push the leading edge of aquatic design. Tireless critics of the rank-and-file swimming pool and spa industry, Phillips and Boruff constantly work to elevate standards for design, engineering, and construction.
For innovative designs and dazzling watershapes, Questar is the company to call.
