The edge that disappears instead of stopping.
A vanishing edge pool lets water spill over one edge into a catch basin below, so the pool appears to have no boundary at all. It works best on a lot with a grade change to fall away into, and it suits a homeowner who wants the water itself to be the view.
The Atlantis Studio
The Chadwell project in Roswell shows the type at its clearest: a vanishing-edge pool with a glass-tile spillway, photographed at twilight below a brick estate, the water appearing to run straight off the edge of the property. That's the effect this type is built to produce.
Who a vanishing edge pool actually fits.
Vanishing edge pools suit a lot with a real elevation change, a view worth framing, and a homeowner willing to take on the added engineering and equipment a spillover edge requires: a slope, a tree line, a view down toward a valley or a neighboring green space. This type asks the most of any pool style Atlantis builds, from a catch basin, extra pumping capacity, and ongoing water-level attention a standard pool doesn't need.
What a spillover edge asks of your property and your build.
A vanishing edge pool depends on a grade change to work at all: the spilled water needs somewhere to fall to and a catch basin to return it from. The engineering starts with the drop itself, built to a precise, level tolerance, since any variation shows up as water spilling unevenly instead of in a clean, even sheet. Below it, a catch basin collects the water and a dedicated pump returns it to the pool, more equipment and plumbing than a standard pool carries. Site analysis has to confirm the grade supports the effect before design goes further, since a vanishing edge on a lot without a real elevation change either falls flat or needs an artificial retaining structure to fake the drop.
Chadwell · Roswell
The real Atlantis vanishing edge project.
The Chadwell project in Roswell is Atlantis's verified vanishing edge build, and the reference point for what this type looks like when the site, the design, and the engineering align.
The Chadwell Project in Roswell.
What began as a plan for a small freeform pool became an elaborate linear modern design with a vanishing edge and a pool house, after Atlantis took over the project mid-build from another contractor. The relationship with that family has continued for more than ten years since.
Also appears on Linear and modern and Renovations.
Questions buyers ask about vanishing edge pools.
What's the difference between a vanishing edge and an infinity edge?
The terms are largely interchangeable in casual use. Both describe an edge where water spills over into a catch basin below, creating the appearance of no boundary. Some builders reserve "infinity edge" for a design that frames a distant view and "vanishing edge" for the mechanical feature itself, but there's no strict industry-wide distinction.
Does a vanishing edge pool cost more than a standard pool?
Yes. The catch basin, the added pump and plumbing, and the precision required in the wall construction all add cost beyond a standard pool edge.
Can you build a vanishing edge on a flat lot?
Not effectively without significant added structure. The feature depends on a real elevation change to fall toward. A flat lot can sometimes support one with an engineered retaining wall or raised design, but that adds cost and complexity beyond what the feature is usually worth on a site without a natural drop.
Does a vanishing edge pool need more maintenance than a standard pool?
The added equipment, the catch basin pump and the extra plumbing, means more mechanical components to service over time than a standard pool has.
See what this looks like on your lot.
A vanishing edge only works if the site supports it, so the honest first step is the same one every Atlantis project starts with: a site visit, where Kelly reads the grade in person and talks through whether this is the right feature for what your property can actually do.