Infinity pool

An infinity edge pool (also named negative edge, zero edge, disappearing edge or vanishing edge pool) is a swimming or reflecting pool which produces a visual effect of water extending to the horizon, vanishing, or extending to "infinity". They are often seen at exotic resorts, exclusive estates, and in advertisements. The infinity pool design concept is said to have originated in Bali, Indonesia, where its inspiration came directly from observing the dramatic effect created by the ubiquitous terraced rice paddies, known locally as sawah, for which the island is famous.

Design

An infinity pool at a hotel in Gran Canaria, Spain.

Infinity pools are almost always built in precarious locations, such as cliffs or mountain tops, so must be anchored securely. This requires sound structural engineering, based upon the geological conditions found at the site. Such pools are often substantially more expensive to build than a normal swimming pool, mainly due to the cost of the foundations at these ambitious locations.

In reality the edge of the pool terminates in a weir that is one-half to one inch (12 mm to 25 mm) lower than the required median pool water level. A trough or catch basin is constructed below the weir. The water spills into the catch basin, from which it is then pumped back into the pool. One type of location in which the effect is particularly impressive is where the infinity edge appears to merge with a larger body of water such as the ocean, with the sky (if the pool is located on the side of a hill or field of green), or with foliage.

Circulation systems

An infinity pool at a resort in Kerala, India.

Properly built, these pools have two circulation systems. The first functions like that of a regular pool, filtering and heating the water in the main pool. The second circulation system (known as the "edge system" or "effects system"), filters the water in the catch basin and returns it to the upper pool. When the edge-system stops, the water level in the upper pool continues to spill into the basin - stopping at the level of the weir wall. The water necessary to raise the upper pool and fill the edge-system plumbing is called the "water in transit." Considerable skill is required on the part of the designer to incorporate a catch basin of an appropriate size.

If the catch basin is too small, swimmers will force out ("bather displacement") more water than the catch basin can hold. This can lead to catastrophic landslides or hillside erosion. If the basin is too large, the edge-system pump may also draw down the catch basins' level, before the water has returned in sufficient quantity for the edge pump to retain its prime. The catch basin also needs to have additional holding capacity (above its static level - known as "freeboard"). The freeboard is the available extra capacity to hold the bather displacement and rain water, before it reaches the level of the overflow line.

Dedicated filtration systems are required on both systems. The edge pump is usually a much larger pump, required to overcome bather displacement, water in transit, and to raise the upper pool's level. It would be a waste of energy to run such a large pump as a primary filtration system. Adequate filtration is required on the edge-system (based upon the edge-system flow rate), as most of the debris flows over the weir and into the catch basin. A smaller circulation pump can be used for daily filtration on the main pool. Failure to install filtration on the edge-system will result in the debris in the basin being blown back into the upper pool.

An automatic fill device is incorporated into the catch basin. Electronic autofill sensors are preferred by the leading designers, as they have a built-in delay to compensate for wave action from bather surges. A common toilet cistern refill device should not be utilized, as they constantly bob up and down, causing annoying hissing sounds and water hammering in the nearby residence.

Infinity edge pools were the beginning of the mainstream trend to create architectural swimming pools, elevating swimming pools to an art form for aquatic designers, aquatic architects, watershape designers or watershapers.

Criticisms

There is a potential environmental impact. They may lose more water through evaporation if they can't use a pool cover, and energy consumption may be higher if additional pumping systems are needed.

References

• Infinity Pools (Hardcover); Author: Ana G. Canizares; ISBN 0060893400

External links

• Infinity Pool and Spa, a southern California's pool company
• The infinity pools at Jade Mountain
• Infinity pool in Punta Mita, Mexico