In the middle of the open-air atrium at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club in Orlando, Fla., is a large pool with a 9-foot-tall triple lotus fountain made from wet-cast TecStone material. This denser cast stone has a smoother finish that the dry cast process. It's also more suitable for larger decorative elements, as it can be reinforced with nonferrous materials.

A focal point at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club Orlando, Fla., is a dramatic fountain feature supplied by Haddonstone consisting of an extra large pool surround containing four 6-feet Lotus bowls ($7,568/each) with triple Dolphin fountains ($1,458), and a 16-foot-6-inch tall Tuscan column in the center, topped by a statue of Venus ($1,166).

The Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International Drive in Orlando, Fla., was constructed in a prime location, just a 10-minute drive from the Walt Disney World Resort and within walking distance to the Orlando "premium outlets." The design has a strong Tuscan theme characterized by a series of magnificent water features from Haddonstone (USA) Ltd., contrasting with strong terracotta rendered colors. Haddonstone supplied its products for the exterior of the 34-acre project, which was finished on time and came in under budget.

"The resort celebrates the architectural and gardenesque ambiance of the great Italian villas from Tuscany to Rome," explains Keith Bongirnowas, the landscape designer who chose the fountains and designs supplied by the cast stone manufacturer. "My aim was to have the guests experience the atmosphere of residing in an Italian lakeside villa."

The architects behind the design, Fugleberg Koch Architects, located in Winter Park, Fla., chose the Tuscan theme because they considered it would be unique to Orlando. The Tuscan style is now popular in many places, with the hotel already considered a trendsetter in the area.

Bordering the swimming pool are "grotesque" mask fountains, "vigorous comic" heads in a gothic style, both mythological figures and lion faces.
Four of the mask fountains are on pedestals that support custom-made obelisks (2 pictured).

The lotus bowls were also made from wet-cast TecStone material, while the tall Tuscan column (picture above) and Dolphin fountains were made from dry-cast material. The manufacturer's architectural cast stone has a surface texture that simulates natural or cut limestone.

The designs for the project were hand-made at the production facility in Pueblo, Colo., with the company's specialist contracts staff looking after the project from design to delivery.

The triple lotus fountain and lotus bowls were made from the manufacturer's wet-cast TecStone material, which is suitable for larger items as it can be reinforced with nonferrous components.

All the other stonework on the project, including the Tuscan column, pool surrounds, obelisks and wall fountains were all made from dry-cast material.

The company has an extensive standard range of landscape ornaments and architectural cast stone ranging from planters, statuary, sundials and fountains to balustrades, pergola, gate piers and follies. They regularly work with architects, landscape architects and other design professionals to offer custom-made designs on many projects, whether large or small.

For more information, e-mail stone@haddonstone.com, call 719-948-4554 or visit www.haddonstone.com.