Infinity Pools

A Special Collection of Dramatic Pools Built to Inspire

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As dusk falls, the shades and tones found in the sky and in the nearby waterway echo the pool’s finish. The merging of the two is perfectly done, fooling even the most analytical eyes.Photograph by Trevor J. Rosendahl, Nitelites. Pools by John Clarkson, Jacksonville, Fla.

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One of the most dramatic effects found in the art of

poolscaping is the infinity edge.

Made to fool the eye into believing that the

pool and the natural setting it overlooks are one, this type of

pool is perfect for homes with exquisite views. You will see infinity

pools appear in amazing spots: cantilevered off hillsides, perched

on mountainsides, and surveying the bright lights of nearby

cityscapes. Venues near water, however, are the most popular——and

for a good reason. They are also the most spectacular. But no

matter where the pool is situated, it captures the imagination with

its incredible ability to astonish even the most jaded of viewers.

Throughout this book you will find a variety of breathtaking

images featuring pools “spilling” into tropical lagoons, magnificent

mountainscapes, and other picture-perfect vistas——and each photo

illustrates why this type of pool is so awe-inspiring. While new

designs and concepts for swimming pools are always being

devised, infinity pools remain a popular choice for homeowners

who want to bring the grandeur they see on

the horizon into their reality.

InfinityPools

A Special Collection of DramaticPools…Built to Inspire


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How the Effect Is Created

Called by a variety of names——vanishing edge,

negative edge, knife edge, disappearing edge, and

flooded edge—— infinity-edge pools are not the

invention of modern pool builders: one of the first

pools featuring water flowing over an edge

appeared in Europe during the late 1800s. It was

not until more recently, however, that the concept

caught the attention of homeowners everywhere——

thanks to Hollywood. Demand grew as exotic

With a wet bar and hydrotherapy jets, this pool features two spectacular levels,with the upper pool flowing over its infinity edge into the lower pool. Aquart, Santa Cruz, Costa Rica

Valley Pool and Spa, Kelowna, B.C., Canada


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infinity-edge pools began to appear in movies and

in magazine photo stories; as that demand grew,

so did the skill required by pool builders to create the

desired effect. Today, building specialists constantly

devise new ideas to bring this design to even higher

levels of sophistication and beauty.

The basics have not changed over the years:

They begin and end with a knowledge of structural

engineering. Although the pool water appears to

mysteriously flow into infinity, it is in fact emptying

into a catch basin and is then recirculated back into

the main pool. A walk to the other side of the pool

dispels the magic.

The first thing you will notice is the weir wall. This is

an important part of the system as this is where the

water flows down as it descends into the catch basin.

Because it can be seen from a number of vantage

points, it is also a vital part of the design. Technically, it

has to be flawlessly planned and built; visually, it has to

complement the entire design.

The catch basin also plays a key role in building the

perfectly-crafted infinity-edge pool. The designer has to

make sure it is large enough and wide enough to keep

the water flowing evenly and smoothly, but that doesn’t

mean it has to be work-a-day in appearance. Some

designers go for the big splash by allowing the basin

to play a starring role all its own; others prefer to

blend it into the landscaping, barely allowing it

to make an appearance.

Tricks of the Trade

The challenge of bringing far-off vistas into a

carefully crafted setting is one that experienced pool

designers handle with practiced ease. Since their goal is

In this case, the weir wall is serving triple duty: mechanically, artistically, and musically. All Island Gunite Pools, Farmingdale, N.Y.


Here is a wonderful example of how the poolbuilder used the nearby woodland as a point

of observation for the infinity edge. Lewis Aquatech Pools, Chantilly, Va.


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infinity pool appear as if it is emptying into the

vast blueness of the ocean, a designer will choose

a pool finish that will create the same blue color

in the pool. This makes the pool look as if it’s

flowing into the ocean and vice versa.

As light hits the scene, it is hard for the eye to

discern the beginning of one vessel and the end

of the other; this achieves the ultimate swimming

pool illusion.

Another spectacular effect is when the infinity

edge seems to cascade into the setting on the

other side of the property line——most often a

Advanced Pools, Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Cabana Pools Aquatech, Houston, Texas


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The meticulously landscaped scenery is best enjoyed fromthe clean lines of the negative-edgepool. Note the designof water feature: it, too,is a vanishing edge. Lewis Aquatech Pools,Chantilly, Va.

Memphis Pool, Collierville, Tenn.

Photographed by Keith Sutter Photography for Dal Pino Quality Pools, Inc., Auburn, Calif.

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Infinity Pools

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