We are proud to announce that this week Total Habitat was awarded a Building Congress and Exchange Craftsmanship Award for our Exhibit work at the Baltimore Zoo! Using shotcrete (a type of concrete that is sprayed onto an armature then artistically carved/stamped and colored) we created a stream for the zoo's Marsh Aviary habitat. 

​Photo credit & info about other award winners:
http://www.bcebaltimore.org/about-the-craftsmanship-awards/

In Progress: Mick & Dale finalizing the overall stream shape in preparation for shotcrete. 

In Progress: Structure coat underway (structural concrete layer over rebar w/ shape roughed out). Next, will be "theme" coat (top layer of concrete that will be artistically carved/stamped). 

In Progress: Stamped mud texture (left). Stream with "theme" coat applied and carving underway (right photo). 

Check out these stunning pics of the animal habitats we created for the brand new Bugarium at the ABQ Biopark!

At the Bugarium, which is home to such spectacular specimens as tarantulas, centipedes, scorpions, giant katydids, naked mole rats, and giant roaches, we were tasked with the challenge of creating several distinct exhibits within one large open area. We created these exhibit areas-- Desert, Tropics (including a living wall, waterfall, and indoor pond),  Ant Island w/ "Highway" Vine, and Nocturnal Forest/Riverbank--  to accommodate our "bug" residents and immerse visitors in their natural environments. Here are photos from the exhibit opening:

In the Tropical Area, we created a living wall that features a carved "rock" waterfall with boulder-edged pond below. Check out our project photo gallery for in-progress pics! 

The Desert Area was designed to house desert floor dwellers like tarantulas, scorpions and Honeypot Ants. In order to display these specimens in an accessible way, we brought the desert floor up to the visitor and themed the display like an eroded desert ridge. 

Entrance to the Nocturnal Forest

Nocturnal Forest in daylight (90% completed)...

Here in the Nocturnal Forest, we created an immersive experience for visitors, complete with a carved concrete buttressed tree and fallen log (which house the "bugs"), a leafy canopy above, and eery sounds of the forest at night which echo around the dimly lit space.  

Nocturnal Riverbank in daylight (90% completed)...

In the second Nocturnal room, we created an eroded riverbank, complete with themed mud and tree roots, in order to bring our underground and rainforest floor specimens up to eye level. Here, visitors move through semi-darkness toward backlit displays cut into the side of the riverbank, while listening to the (sometimes eery) sounds of the rainforest at night. 

Water-bug Area: Here we created space for the water-bug aquariums with visitor seating in between. We themed these bench seats like a muddy riverbank with roots poking through and a cracked mud texture on top. 

Ant Island: On this octagonal island, we erected three 15ft trees (dead trees but with a silk leaves) surrounded by a mote, to house the Leaf Cutter Ants. We also created an artificial vine (kept moist for their comfort) that runs from the trees on this island to their home base on the other side of the room, allowing the ants to collect leaves from this island to bring back to the rest of the colony.  So cool!

A close-up of the Leaf Cutter Ant "Highway" vine

Finally, using much of the same processes as our Natural Swimming Pool/Ponds, we created a pond for catfish and dragonflies at the entrance to the Bugarium.

Here is an underwater view of the pond (to the left you can see one of our built-in hiding places for future catfish) -- as always, crystal-clear water with no chemicals!

Our Exhibit Design & Build team is busy working in Albuquerque, NM on a brand new bug exhibit! 

Sophie with Ralph, checking out the specimens we are designing for-- yes, those are giant roaches in the background!

Matt, Evan, Mick and Dylan meeting about the water bug area - complete with a living wall and pond.

Dylan with one of our exhibit models

This spectacular, new Natural Swimming Pond was designed by Total Habitat and built by Country Landscapes Inc, near Nevada, Iowa! Thank you Michelle for the photos!

New photos of our Natural Swimming Pond (NSP) in Connecticut! 

Made with locally-sourced rounded boulders, native water plants, and reclaimed wood for the pier, this gorgeous NSP is the centerpiece of this urban oasis! 

Designed by Total Habitat and built in partnership with Dietter's Water Gardens in North Haven, CT.

Our Natural Swimming Pools & Ponds are in all of the states shaded blue above! Ready to join the map? Ask us about our "Pioneer Discount" available if you are the first NSP owner in your area!

Now introducing a brand new Total Habitat Natural Swimming Pool/Pond near Lawrence, KS! This stunning, custom NSP features a stamped concrete patio, a pebble beach, several waterfalls, a paved floor with built-in fiber optic lighting, a custom outdoor shower, and an 18 foot infinity edge with views of the Kansas countryside beyond. In this NSP, we built our biological filtration system right into the walls and floor, hidden behind our stacked rock walls and under our "paved" floor treatment. This enormous filter, along with our jet system, edge waterfalls, and large infinity fall work together to constantly move water up to atmosphere and down through our biological filters, eliminating the need for chlorine or other chemicals!

View of the pebble beach, infinity edge, contemporary ladder and handrail, and wooden outdoor shower screen (far right). 

Stamped patio jumping/sunning ledge (on right) and planted "wild" area (center) with infinity edge beyond.

View of the pond and patio from the infinity edge (beach entry with hand rail on left and "wild" edge with waterfall on right).

Here are photos of a freshly built Natural Swimming Pond in New Haven, Connecticut. It features stacked rounded boulder walls, a zero-entry pebble beach and a small jumping pier with ladder, made from reclaimed old-growth douglas fir. We built this NSP with the help of local building partners, Dietter's Water Gardens of North Haven, CT. If you're in or near Connecticut, be sure to stop by Dietter's and check out their massive aquatic plant and fish selection! http://awatergarden.com

We can't wait to see this NSP once all the water plants are in and the owners' beautiful wildflowers are in bloom! In the meantime, here is a sneak peek at this lovely boulder swimming hole:

Total Habitat built this Natural Swimming Pool/Pond in 2001 in Wichita, Kansas. This pool/pond is an example of our "Essentials Plus" design: Our most economical model, plus just one load of geology (large rocks around the pond & low-profile waterfall). Essentials Plus pool/ponds have been built for around $49,000 (thanks largely to that single load of geology)! 

View this video on youtube instead:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KD-Ys1zwGc&feature=youtu.be

This Total Habitat Natural Swimming Pool/Pond (NSP) was built in 2008 in Wichita, Kansas. This NSP is nearly 8 feet deep, with two low-profile waterfalls, a pebble beach entry, and lots of beautiful geology! Unlike our Essentials Plus model, this pool/pond's biological filtration system is not built behind a bio-filter retaining wall (an underwater wall surrounding the swimming area). Instead, the biological filtration system in this pool/pond is completely hidden from view in the walls and floor!

View this video on youtube instead:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwpFLEuj8DA&feature=youtu.be