Vanishing-edge pool

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An award-winning vanishing-edge pool

Also infinity-edge pool and negative-edge pool

A vanishing-edge pool is made to look as if the water on at least one side flows out into the horizon.

How It Works

The vanishing-edge effect is created by spilling water over the top of the wall so it flows out of view.

To achieve this look, builders set the top of the wall so that it sits slightly lower than water level. The water spills over the top of the wall, called the weir. It drops into a catch basin, a miniature pool on the back of the wall made specifically to contain the spillout until it is recirculated back into the pool.

Design Applications

As long as space allows, these can be done with as many sides of the pool as the owner wishes. If it is done on all sides, it becomes a perimeter-overflow pool.

Vanishing-edge pools are known for their reflective quality. They often are placed on hillside properties to enhance the view below and capture the reflection of the sky. Beautiful examples have appeared on flat land to reflect sculptural trees, bold flowers, art pieces or other eye catchers.

Traditionally, the vanishing-edge weir is placed opposite from the primary viewing site, so that water falls away and out of view. But sometimes the effect is inverted, with water spilling over the wall closest to the viewing point, so that it falls toward the house, patio or other destination.

Design Tips

To enhance the reflective quality, designers often finish the pool interior with dark colors. The richer, smoother surface of tile also helps the effect.

For the glassiest water surface, waterfeatures, spillover spas and other turbulent elements should be moved away from the vanishing edge itself and kept at a low flow so they disrupt the surface as little as possible.

Technical Challenges

While vanishing-edge pools have become more and more common, they still require a higher level of craftsmanship than a typical pool.

The vanishing-edge wall must be as level as possible, meaning that those who form the shell and apply finishing materials must work precisely.

The plumbing required to move water from the catch basin back into the pool is also more complicated. If it isn’t done correctly, water from the main pool can travel backward in the plumbing and end up flooding the catch basin – not only draining the main pool but possibly eroding the soil where the water floods out.